JP7247735B2 - Electrical equipment system and second battery pack - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electrical equipment system having a battery pack and an electrical equipment body to which it can be connected , and a second battery pack .

Patent Literature 1 listed below discloses a battery pack for a power tool. This battery pack includes five cells in the front-rear direction and cells with an outer diameter of 16 mm arranged in two layers vertically, and the ten cells are arranged in a zigzag pattern when viewed in the axial direction of the cells. According to this, the inner dimension of the battery case is suppressed to be equal to or less than the sum of the outer diameters of four cells each having an outer diameter of 18 mm.

WO2016/52266

In the technique of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to reduce the outer diameter of the cells used in the battery pack in order to reduce the size of the battery pack.

The present invention has been made in recognition of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a second battery pack that can be miniaturized without reducing the outer diameter of the cells , and the second battery pack. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical equipment system.

One aspect of the present invention is an electrical equipment system. This electrical equipment system
a first battery pack containing N first cells having a first outer diameter and having a first rated voltage;
A second cell housing N/2 cells having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter and having a second rated voltage substantially the same as the first rated voltage a battery pack;
an electric device main body configured to be connectable by selecting one of the first and second battery packs ;
The first battery pack has a first separator holding the N first cells, and a first substrate fixed to the first separator with a first screw,
The second battery pack has a second separator holding the N/2 second cells, and a second substrate fixed to the second separator with a second screw. ,
the first screw extends between first cells that are vertically adjacent to each other;
the second screw extends between second cells that are vertically adjacent to each other;
The height of the second screw boss engaging with the second screw of the second separator is lower than the height of the first screw boss engaging with the first screw of the first separator.

The first and second battery packs are slidably connectable to the electrical device main body in a first direction,
The second battery pack may be smaller than the first battery pack in the first direction.

a third battery pack containing M cells, which is less than the N cells, and having a third rated voltage lower than the first rated voltage;
A dimension of the second battery pack in the first direction may be substantially the same as that of the third battery pack.

The first cells are arranged in a grid pattern and housed in a first case,
The second cells may be baled and housed in a second case.

In the first battery pack, N/2 of the first cells are connected in series,
In the second battery pack, all the second cells may be connected in series.

There may be a fourth battery pack containing N/2 of the first cells and having a fourth rated voltage substantially the same as the first rated voltage.

In the fourth battery pack, all the first cells may be connected in series.

The distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the second cells adjacent in the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction may be longer than the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the first cells adjacent in the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction.

Another aspect of the present invention is a second battery pack. This second battery pack is
A second battery pack that can be connected to an electrical device main body in place of the first battery pack,
the first battery pack contains N first cells having a first outer diameter and has a first rated voltage;
The second battery pack houses N/2 second cells having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter, and a second battery pack substantially equal to the first rated voltage. has a rated voltage of
The first battery pack has a first separator holding the N first cells, and a first substrate fixed to the first separator with a first screw,
The second battery pack has a second separator holding the N/2 second cells, and a second substrate fixed to the second separator with a second screw. ,
the first screw extends between first cells that are vertically adjacent to each other;
the second screw extends between second cells that are vertically adjacent to each other;
The height of the second screw boss engaging with the second screw of the second separator is lower than the height of the first screw boss engaging with the first screw of the first separator.

Another aspect of the invention is an electrical equipment system. This electrical equipment system
a second battery pack;
an electric device main body configured to select and connect either the first battery pack or the second battery pack,
the first battery pack contains N first cells having a first outer diameter and has a first rated voltage;
The second battery pack houses N/2 second cells having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter, and a second battery pack substantially equal to the first rated voltage. has a rated voltage of
The first battery pack has a first separator holding the N first cells, and a first substrate fixed to the first separator with a first screw,
The second battery pack has a second separator holding the N/2 second cells, and a second substrate fixed to the second separator with a second screw. ,
the first screw extends between first cells that are vertically adjacent to each other;
the second screw extends between second cells that are vertically adjacent to each other;
The height of the second screw boss engaging with the second screw of the second separator is lower than the height of the first screw boss engaging with the first screw of the first separator.

Any combination of the above constituent elements, and conversion of expressions of the present invention between methods and devices are also effective as aspects of the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a second battery pack that can be miniaturized without reducing the outer diameter of the cell, and an electric device system having the second battery pack .

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the electrical equipment system according to the embodiment of the present invention when a second battery pack 20 is connected to a power tool main body 70; The same right side view. The same rear view. 1 is a front view showing a case where a first battery pack 10 is connected to a power tool main body 70 in an electrical equipment system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. The same right side view. The same rear view. The right side view of the 2nd battery pack 20 which comprises some electric equipment systems which concern on embodiment of this invention. The same right side sectional view. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. 8 ; AA sectional view of FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view of a second battery pack 20; The same rear view. Same plan view. FIG. 2 is a right side view of first battery pack 10 forming part of the electrical equipment system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The same right side sectional view. FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of part D in FIG. CC sectional view of FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view of the first battery pack 10; The same rear view. Same plan view. The right side view of the 4th battery pack 40 which comprises some electric equipment systems which concern on embodiment of this invention. The same right side sectional view. FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of the F portion of FIG. 22; EE sectional view of FIG. 4 is a front view of a fourth battery pack 40; FIG. The same rear view. Same plan view. The right side view of the 3rd battery pack 30 which comprises a part of electric equipment system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The same right side sectional view. FIG. 29 is an enlarged view of part H of FIG. 29; GG sectional view of FIG. 3 is a front view of a third battery pack 30; FIG. The same rear view. Same plan view. 4 is a dimensional comparison diagram of a case where a first battery pack 10 is connected to a power tool body 70 and a case where a second battery pack 20 is connected to the power tool body 70. FIG. FIG. 3 is a size comparison diagram of a first battery pack 10, a second battery pack 20, a third battery pack 30, and a fourth battery pack 40; 3 is a height comparison diagram between a first screw boss 13a of a first separator 13 of a first battery pack 10 and a second screw boss 23a of a second separator 23 of a second battery pack 20; FIG. The right side view of the 5th battery pack 50 which comprises some electric equipment systems which concern on embodiment of this invention. The same right side sectional view. JJ sectional view of FIG. FIG. 41 is an enlarged view of the L section in FIG. 40; KK sectional view of FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view of a fifth battery pack 50; The same rear view. Same plan view.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent constituent elements, members, etc. shown in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplication of description will be omitted as appropriate. Moreover, the embodiments are illustrative rather than limiting the invention, and not all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention.

This embodiment relates to an electrical equipment system. This electrical equipment system includes a first battery pack 10, a second battery pack 20, a third battery pack 30, a fourth battery pack 40, a fifth battery pack 50, and a power tool main body 70. The first battery pack 10, the second battery pack 20, the third battery pack 30, the fourth battery pack 40, and the fifth battery pack 50 are all connectable to the power tool main body 70, The configuration related to the connection with the tool main body 70 (the configuration of the rail portion, the latch member, and the terminals) is common to each other. The power tool main body 70 is an example of an electric device main body. The power tool main body 70 includes batteries to which the first battery pack 10, the second battery pack 20, the third battery pack 30, the fourth battery pack 40, and the fifth battery pack 50 can be alternatively connected. It has a pack connection portion 70a and a load portion (for example, a motor) 70b driven by power from the battery pack connected to the battery pack connection portion 70a. 1 to 3 show the case where the second battery pack 20 is connected to the power tool body 70, and FIGS. 4 to 6 show the case where the first battery pack 10 is connected to the power tool body 70. FIG. Since the configuration of the power tool main body 70 is well known, the description thereof is omitted here.

The configuration of the second battery pack 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 13. FIG. The second battery pack 20 has a second case 21 made of resin molding, for example. A second rail portion 21a, a second latch operation portion 26a, and a second latch protrusion (claw portion) 26b are provided on both left and right side surfaces of the upper end portion of the second case 21, respectively. The second rail portion 21a serves as a guide for sliding connection to the power tool main body 70. As shown in FIG. The direction of the slide connection is the front-rear direction. The second latch operation portion 26a and the second latch projection portion 26b form an integrated latch member for locking the second battery pack 20 to the power tool main body 70. As shown in FIG. To release the lock, the second latch operation portion 26a is pushed in to retract the second latch protrusion 26b. The second case 21 accommodates five second cells 22, a second separator 23, and a second substrate 24 inside itself.

Five, which is the number of second cells 22 in the second battery pack 20, is an example of N/2 and L. FIG. The outer diameter (second outer diameter) of the second cell 22 is 21 mm (φ21). Also, the longitudinal dimension of the second cell 22 is 65 mm or 70 mm. The second cell 22 is a 21650 or 21700 type cell. The second outer diameter is larger than the outer diameter (first outer diameter) of the first cell 12 described later. The second cells 22 are 3.6V per cell. The five second cells 22 are connected in series with each other. The rated voltage (second rated voltage) of the second battery pack 20 is 18V. The second rated voltage is substantially the same as the rated voltage (first rated voltage) of first battery pack 10 . The capacity of the second battery pack 20 is 5 Ah. Five second cells 22 are baled in the second case 21 . The bales are stacked in two stages, three in the upper stage and two in the lower stage. The number of the second cells 22 that is one less than that of the upper stage is arranged in the lower stage. In each stage, the second cells 22 are arranged in the front-rear direction. The longitudinal direction of the second cells 22 is parallel to the left-right direction. The distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the second cells 22 adjacent in parallel with the front-rear direction is greater than the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the second cells 22 adjacent in the oblique direction. In other words, the second cells 2 have a cylindrical shape, and the distance between the radial centers of the cells 22 adjacent in parallel to the front-rear direction is greater than the distance between the radial centers of the diagonally adjacent cells 22. big. In the example of FIG. 8, the space before and after the two second cells 22 in the lower stage in the second case 21 is a dead space, and additional parts such as a wireless communication module are arranged in this space. You can also

The second separator 23 is made of resin molding, for example. The second separator 23 holds five second cells 22 at predetermined intervals. A second substrate 24 is fixed to the second separator 23 . The second separator 23 has a second screw boss 23a at its upper end as shown in FIG. The second screw bosses 23a are provided between the second cells 22 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. The second substrate 24 is fixed on the second separator 23 by a second screw 27 that passes through the second substrate 24 from top to bottom and is screwed into the second screw boss 23a. The number of screw-fixed portions by the second screws 27 is arbitrary. The second screws 27 extend between adjacent second cells 22 in the upper row. As shown in FIG. 10, second terminals 25 serving as a second interface are provided side by side in the horizontal direction on the upper surface of the second substrate 24 . Although there are seven second terminals 25 in the illustrated example, the number is arbitrary.

The configuration of the first battery pack 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 20. FIG. The first battery pack 10 has a first case 11 made of resin molding, for example. A first rail portion 11a, a first latch operation portion 16a, and a first latch protrusion (claw portion) 16b are provided on both left and right side surfaces of the upper end portion of the first case 11, respectively. The first rail portion 11a serves as a guide when slidingly connecting to the power tool main body 70. As shown in FIG. The direction of the slide connection is the front-rear direction. The first latch operation portion 16a and the first latch projection portion 16b form an integrated latch member for locking the first battery pack 10 to the power tool main body 70. As shown in FIG. To release the lock, the first latch operation portion 16a is pushed in to retract the first latch protrusion 16b. The first case 11 accommodates ten first cells 12, first separators 13, and first substrates 14 therein.

Ten, which is the number of the first cells 12 in the first battery pack 10, is an example of N. The outer diameter (first outer diameter) of the first cell 12 is 18 mm (φ18). Also, the longitudinal dimension of the first cell 12 is 65 mm. The first cell 12 is an 18650 type cell. The first cells 12 are 3.6V per cell. Five of the ten first cells 12 are connected in series with each other, and two sets of these series connections are connected in parallel with each other. Alternatively, five sets of two first cells 12 (cell sets) connected in parallel are connected in series. The rated voltage (first rated voltage) of the first battery pack 10 is 18V. The capacity of the first cell 12 is 3Ah. The capacity of the first battery pack 10 is 6 Ah. Ten first cells 12 are stacked in parallel within the first case 11 . The number of stages of parallel stacking is two, with five upper and lower stages. In each stage, the first cells 12 are arranged in the front-rear direction. The longitudinal direction of the first cell 12 is parallel to the left-right direction. In parallel stacking, the first cells 12 arranged in the upper and lower tiers are arranged in parallel at the same position in the front-rear direction, and the first cells 12 in the upper tier are directly above the first cells 12 in the lower tier. They are stacked in a grid pattern so that they are aligned.

The first separator 13 is made of, for example, a resin molding. The first separator 13 holds ten first cells 12 at predetermined intervals. A first substrate 14 is fixed to the first separator 13 . The first separator 13 has a first screw boss 13a at its upper end as shown in FIG. The first screw bosses 13a are provided between adjacent first cells 12 in the upper row in the front-rear direction. The first substrate 14 is fixed on the first separator 13 by a first screw 17 that passes through the first substrate 14 from top to bottom and is screwed into the first screw boss 13a. The number of screw-fixed portions by the first screws 17 is arbitrary. The first screw 17 extends between adjacent first cells 12 in the upper row. As shown in FIG. 17, first terminals 15 serving as a first interface are provided side by side in the horizontal direction on the top surface of the first substrate 14 . Although there are seven first terminals 15 in the illustrated example, the number is arbitrary.

The configuration of the fourth battery pack 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 to 27. FIG. The fourth battery pack 40 is obtained by eliminating the five lower first cells 12 of the first battery pack 10 and modifying the first battery pack 10 accordingly. The fourth battery pack 40 has a fourth case 41 made of resin molding, for example. A fourth rail portion 41a, a fourth latch operation portion 46a, and a fourth latch protrusion (claw portion) 46b are provided on both left and right side surfaces of the upper end portion of the fourth case 41, respectively. The fourth rail portion 41 a serves as a guide when slidingly connecting to the power tool main body 70 . The direction of the slide connection is the front-rear direction. The fourth latch operation portion 46a and the fourth latch projection portion 46b form an integrated latch member for locking the fourth battery pack 40 to the power tool main body 70. As shown in FIG. To release the locking, the fourth latch operation portion 46a is pushed in to retract the fourth latch protrusion 46b. The fourth case 41 accommodates the five first cells 12, the fourth separator 43, and the fourth substrate 44 inside itself.

Five, which is the number of first cells 12 in the fourth battery pack 40, is an example of N/2 and L. The five first cells 12 are connected in series with each other. The rated voltage (fourth rated voltage) of the fourth battery pack 40 is 18V, which is substantially the same as the first rated voltage. The capacity of the fourth battery pack 40 is 3 Ah. The five first cells 12 are arranged in the front-rear direction inside the fourth case 41 . The longitudinal direction of the first cell 12 is parallel to the left-right direction.

The fourth separator 43 is made of resin molding, for example. The fourth separator 43 holds five first cells 12 at predetermined intervals. A fourth substrate 44 is fixed to the fourth separator 43 . The fourth separator 43 has a fourth screw boss 43a at its upper end as shown in FIG. The fourth screw boss 43a is provided between adjacent first cells 12 in the front-rear direction. The fourth substrate 44 is fixed on the fourth separator 43 by a fourth screw 47 that penetrates the fourth substrate 44 from top to bottom and is screwed into the fourth screw boss 43a. The number of screwed locations by the fourth screw 47 is arbitrary. A fourth screw 47 extends between adjacent first cells 12 . As shown in FIG. 24, fourth terminals 45 as a fourth interface are arranged in the horizontal direction on the upper surface of the fourth substrate 44 . Although there are seven fourth terminals 45 in the illustrated example, the number is arbitrary.

The configuration of the third battery pack 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 28 to 34. FIG. The third battery pack 30 is obtained by eliminating the frontmost two first cells 12 of the first battery pack 10 and making corresponding changes to the first battery pack 10 . The third battery pack 30 has a third case 31 made of resin molding, for example. A third rail portion 31a, a third latch operation portion 36a, and a third latch protrusion (claw portion) 36b are provided on both left and right side surfaces of the upper end portion of the third case 31, respectively. The third rail portion 31a serves as a guide when slidingly connecting to the power tool main body 70. As shown in FIG. The direction of the slide connection is the front-rear direction. The third latch operation portion 36a and the third latch projection portion 36b form an integrated latch member for locking the third battery pack 30 to the power tool main body 70. As shown in FIG. To release the locking, the third latch operating portion 36a is pushed in to retract the third latch projection 36b. The third case 31 accommodates eight first cells 12, a third separator 33, and a third substrate 34 inside itself.

Eight, which is the number of first cells 12 in the third battery pack 30, is an example of M number. Four of the eight first cells 12 are connected in series with each other, and two sets of these series connections are connected in parallel with each other. Alternatively, four sets of two first cells 12 (cell sets) connected in parallel are connected in series. The rated voltage (third rated voltage) of the third battery pack 30 is 14.4V, which is lower than the first rated voltage. The capacity of the first cell 12 is 3Ah. The capacity of the third battery pack 30 is 6 Ah. The eight first cells 12 are stacked in parallel inside the third case 31 . The number of stages of parallel stacking is 2, and there are 4 upper stages and 4 lower stages. In each stage, the first cells 12 are arranged in the front-rear direction. The longitudinal direction of the first cell 12 is parallel to the left-right direction.

The third separator 33 is made of resin molding, for example. The third separator 33 holds eight first cells 12 at predetermined intervals. A third substrate 34 is fixed to the third separator 33 . The third separator 33 has a third screw boss 33a at its upper end as shown in FIG. The third screw bosses 33a are provided between the adjacent upper first cells 12 in the front-rear direction. The third substrate 34 is fixed on the third separator 33 by a third screw 37 that passes through the third substrate 34 from top to bottom and is screwed into the third screw boss 33a. The number of screwed locations by the third screw 37 is arbitrary. The third screw 37 extends between adjacent first cells 12 in the upper row. As shown in FIG. 31, third terminals 35 serving as a third interface are provided side by side in the horizontal direction on the top surface of the third substrate 34 . Although there are seven third terminals 35 in the illustrated example, the number is arbitrary.

As shown in FIG. 35, second battery pack 20 is smaller than first battery pack 10 in the front-rear direction. The rear end position of the second battery pack 20 substantially coincides with the rear end position of the first battery pack 10 when connected to the power tool main body 70 . That is, the rear ends of the first battery pack 10 and the second battery pack 20 are positioned forward of the rear end of the power tool main body 70 . The front end position of the second battery pack 20 is set back from the front end position of the first battery pack 10 . That is, the front end position of the second battery pack 20 is located behind the front end of the electric power tool main body 70 (the front end of the tip tool attaching portion for attaching a tip tool such as a bit). Therefore, the amount of protrusion of the second battery pack 20 with respect to the lower front end of the power tool body 70 is smaller than that of the first battery pack 10 . Therefore, the second battery pack 20 is smaller than the power tool main body 70 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 36, the first battery pack 10 and the fourth battery pack 40 have substantially the same length in the front-rear direction (the length of the case and the separator). The second battery pack 20 and the third battery pack 30 have substantially the same length in the front-rear direction (the length of the case and the separator). The second battery pack 20 with a rated voltage of 18V can have the same longitudinal dimension as the third battery pack 30 with a rated voltage of 14.4V. The second battery pack 20 and the third battery pack 30 are smaller than the first battery pack 10 and the fourth battery pack 40 in the front-rear direction. Since the second cell 22 is longer than the first cell 12 in the longitudinal direction, the second battery pack 20 is larger than the first battery pack 10 in the left-right direction. However, the degree of increase is such that the left and right end positions of the second case 21 substantially coincide with the left and right end positions of the second latch operating portion 26a as shown in FIGS. It is a range that does not pose a problem. Moreover, even if the second battery pack 20 is larger in the left-right direction, the second battery pack 20 is smaller than the first battery pack 10 in terms of overall volume and weight.

The first reason why the second battery pack 20 is lighter than the first battery pack 10 is that the total weight of the cell groups in the battery pack can be reduced. The structure of the cell is roughly composed of an electrode portion that generates current and an exterior portion that encloses the electrode portion. Therefore, the larger the outer diameter of the cell, the more electrodes can be wrapped with less sheathing, increasing the power-to-weight ratio of the cell. Therefore, the second battery pack 20 using a small number of large-diameter second cells 22 is more efficient than the first battery pack 10 using a large number of small-diameter first cells 12. Since the weight ratio is large, the weight of the battery pack can be reduced. The second reason is that the weight of the separator that protects the cell can be reduced. Since the second cells 22 of the second battery pack 20 are stacked in bales, the spaces between the cells are smaller than when the first cells 12 of the first battery pack 10 are stacked in parallel. can be reduced. Also, the volume and weight of the separator are approximately proportional to the surface area of the side surfaces of the cells in the battery pack. Since the number of the second cells 22 accommodated in the second battery pack 20 is half the number of the first cells 12 accommodated in the first battery pack 10, the cell side surface area is small. Therefore, the second separator 23 of the second battery pack 20 can be lighter than the first separator 13 of the first battery pack 10, and the second separator 23 can be lighter than the first battery pack 10. .

As shown in FIG. 37 , the second screw boss 23a of the second separator 23 of the second battery pack 20 is lower than the first screw boss 13a of the first separator 13 of the first battery pack 10 (up and down). direction length is short). In FIG. 37, the reference of the height of the first screw boss 13a and the second screw boss 23a is the height of the first separator 13 and the second separator 23 when the first screw boss 13a and the second screw boss 23a are excluded. It is positioned at the upper end. Since the outer diameter of the second cell 22 is larger than the outer diameter of the first cell 12, the lowermost part of the screw hole in the second screw boss 23a is positioned at the first position with respect to the height reference position. It can be below the bottom of the screw hole in the screw boss 13a. Therefore, the second screw boss 23a can be made lower than the first screw boss 13a. In addition, since the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the second cells 22 adjacent in the upper stage is greater than the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the adjacent first cells 12 in the upper stage, the second cells 22 adjacent in the upper stage is thicker than the first separator 13 that separates the outer peripheral surfaces of adjacent first cells 12 in the upper stage. This also allows the bottom of the screw hole in the second screw boss 23a to be lower than the bottom of the screw hole in the first screw boss 13a with respect to the reference position of the height. The second screw boss 23a can be made lower than the first screw boss 13a.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In the second battery pack 20, the second cells 22 having a larger diameter than the first cells 12 of the first battery pack 10 are added to the number of first cells 12 in the first battery pack 10 (10 , and five second cells 22 are stacked in bales. Therefore, the second battery pack 20 can have a rated voltage equivalent to that of the first battery pack 10 while being smaller and lighter than the first battery pack 10 . Moreover, it can have a higher rated voltage than the third battery pack 30 while having the same size and weight as the third battery pack 30 .

(2) The user connects the second battery pack 20, which is smaller and lighter than the first battery pack 10, to the conventional power tool main body 70 to which the first battery pack 10 can be connected. It is possible and convenient. In addition, the user can use the small and lightweight second battery pack 20 without newly purchasing a power tool main body to which the second battery pack 20 can be connected, thereby reducing the economic burden. be.

(3) Since the second battery pack 20 is smaller and lighter than the first battery pack 10, it is easy to store. By connecting to the power tool main body 70, workability can be improved.

(4) The second battery pack 20 has a bale-stacked configuration in which the number of second cells 22 arranged in the upper stage is larger than the number of second cells 22 arranged in the lower stage, and the second cells 22 are arranged in diagonally adjacent directions. Since the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the cells 22 (distance between the cell centers)) is smaller than the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the second cells 22 adjacent in the front-rear direction (distance between the cell centers), The center of gravity can be brought closer to the center of gravity of the power tool main body 70, and operability can be improved.

(5) When there are only the first battery pack 10 and the fourth battery pack 40 as battery packs with a rated voltage of 18V, it is inconvenient that only two types of capacity, 6Ah and 3Ah, can be selected. By adding the pack 20, an intermediate 5Ah capacity is added to options, and convenience can be improved. In addition, while having the same size and weight as the fourth battery pack 40, it is possible to secure a capacity of 5Ah, which is close to the capacity of the first battery pack 10, and to add battery pack options, thereby improving convenience. can.

The configuration of the fifth battery pack 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 38 to 45. FIG. The fifth battery pack 50 rotates a set of five second cells 22 in the second battery pack 20 by 90 degrees around an axis parallel to the vertical direction (the longitudinal direction of the cells is arranged parallel to the front-rear direction). ), and a corresponding change is made to the second battery pack 20 . The fifth battery pack 50 has a fifth case 51 made of resin molding, for example. A fifth rail portion 51a, a fifth latch operation portion 56a, and a fifth latch protrusion (claw portion) 56b are provided on both left and right side surfaces of the upper end portion of the fifth case 51, respectively. The fifth rail portion 51a serves as a guide for sliding connection to the power tool main body 70. As shown in FIG. The direction of the slide connection is the front-rear direction. The fifth latch operation portion 56a and the fifth latch projection portion 56b form an integrated latch member for locking the fifth battery pack 50 to the power tool main body 70. As shown in FIG. To release the locking, the fifth latch operating portion 56a is pushed in to retract the fifth latch projection 56b. The fifth case 51 accommodates five second cells 22, a fifth separator 53, and a fifth substrate 54 inside itself.

Five, which is the number of second cells 22 in the fifth battery pack 50, is an example of N/2. The five second cells 22 are connected in series with each other. The rated voltage (fifth rated voltage) of fifth battery pack 50 is 18 V, which is substantially the same as the rated voltage (first rated voltage) of first battery pack 10 . The capacity of the fifth battery pack 50 is 5 Ah. Five second cells 22 are baled in a fifth case 51 . The bales are stacked in two stages, three in the upper stage and two in the lower stage. The number of the second cells 22 that is one less than that of the upper stage is arranged in the lower stage. In each stage, the second cells 22 are arranged in the horizontal direction. The longitudinal direction of the second cells 22 is parallel to the front-rear direction. The distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the second cells 22 adjacent in the left-right direction (the distance between the centers in the radial direction of the cells) is the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the second cells 22 adjacent in the oblique direction (the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the cells). radial center-to-center distance). The spaces on the left and right sides of the two second cells 22 in the lower row in the fifth case 51 are dead spaces in the example of FIG. You can also

The fifth separator 53 is made of resin molding, for example. The fifth separator 53 holds five second cells 22 at predetermined intervals. A fifth substrate 54 is fixed to the fifth separator 53 . The fifth separator 53 has a fifth screw boss 53a at its upper end as shown in FIG. The fifth screw boss 53a is provided between the second cells 22 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. The fifth substrate 54 is fixed on the fifth separator 53 by a fifth screw 57 that passes through the fifth substrate 54 from top to bottom and is screwed into the fifth screw boss 53a. The number of screwing points by the fifth screw 57 is arbitrary. The fifth screw 57 extends between adjacent second cells 22 in the upper stage. As shown in FIG. 42, fifth terminals 55 as a fifth interface are arranged in the horizontal direction on the upper surface of the fifth substrate 54 . Although there are seven fifth terminals 55 in the illustrated example, the number is arbitrary.

The fifth battery pack 50 is slightly larger than the second battery pack 20 in the vertical direction and slightly smaller than the second battery pack 20 in the horizontal direction. Also, the fifth battery pack 50 is substantially the same as the second battery pack 20 in the front-rear direction. However, considering the size difference between the first battery pack 10 and the second battery pack 20 , the fifth battery pack 50 can be said to have substantially the same size as the second battery pack 20 . The fifth battery pack 50 can also achieve the same effect as the second battery pack 20 in the electrical equipment system of the present embodiment. However, the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the upper adjacent second cells 22 in the fifth battery pack 50 (the distance between the centers of the cells in the left-right direction) is the same as the upper adjacent second cells in the second battery pack 20 . The fifth screw boss 53a is higher than the second screw boss 23a because it is shorter than the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the cells 22 (the distance between the centers of the cells in the left-right direction). If the lateral dimension is made equal to that of the second battery pack 20, the fifth screw boss 53a can be kept at the same height as the second screw boss 23a, as in the case of the second battery pack 20. The vertical dimension of the fifth battery pack 50 can be suppressed. In addition, the distance between the centers of the upper and lower second battery cells 22 in the vertical direction is greater in the fifth battery pack 50 than in the second battery pack 20 . Therefore, the second battery pack 20 has a greater effect than the fifth battery pack 50 in bringing the center of gravity closer to the power tool body 70 side.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to each component and each processing process of the embodiments within the scope of the claims. By the way. Modifications will be discussed below.

The electric device main body is not limited to the power tool main body, and may be a main body of an electric working machine or a power tool other than the power tool, or may be a main body of another electric device. The specific voltage value, capacity, number of cells, and the like shown in the embodiment are examples and can be changed as appropriate. In the minimum configuration of the electrical equipment system, the third battery pack 30 may be omitted, one of the first battery pack 10 and the fourth battery pack 40 may be omitted, and the second battery pack 20 may be omitted. and one of the fifth battery pack 50 may be omitted.

10 first battery pack, 11 first case, 11a first rail portion, 12 first cell, 13 first separator, 13a first screw boss, 14 first substrate, 15 first terminal, 16a first latch operating portion, 16b first latch projection, 17 first screw,
20 second battery pack, 21 second case, 21a second rail portion, 22 second cell, 23 second separator, 23a second screw boss, 24 second substrate, 25 second terminal, 26a second latch operating portion, 26b second latch projection, 27 second screw,
30 third battery pack 31 third case 31a third rail portion 33 third separator 33a third screw boss 34 third substrate 35 third terminal 36a third latch operation part, 36b third latch protrusion, 37 third screw,
40 fourth battery pack 41 fourth case 41a fourth rail portion 43 fourth separator 43a fourth screw boss 44 fourth board 45 fourth terminal 46a fourth latch operation part, 46b fourth latch projection, 47 fourth screw,
50 fifth battery pack, 51 fifth case, 51a fifth rail portion, 53 fifth separator, 53a fifth screw boss, 54 fifth substrate, 55 fifth terminal, 56a fifth latch operation part, 56b fifth latch projection, 57 fifth screw;

Claims (10)

a first battery pack containing N first cells having a first outer diameter and having a first rated voltage;
A second cell housing N/2 cells having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter and having a second rated voltage substantially the same as the first rated voltage a battery pack;
an electric device main body configured to be connectable by selecting one of the first and second battery packs ;
The first battery pack has a first separator holding the N first cells, and a first substrate fixed to the first separator with a first screw,
The second battery pack has a second separator holding the N/2 second cells, and a second substrate fixed to the second separator with a second screw. ,
the first screw extends between first cells that are vertically adjacent to each other;
the second screw extends between second cells that are vertically adjacent to each other;
The electrical equipment system. The first and second battery packs are slidably connectable to the electrical device main body in a first direction,
2. The electrical equipment system of claim 1, wherein the second battery pack is smaller than the first battery pack in the first direction. a third battery pack containing M cells, which is less than the N cells, and having a third rated voltage lower than the first rated voltage;
3. The electrical equipment system of claim 2, wherein the dimensions of the second battery pack in the first direction are substantially the same as the dimensions of the third battery pack. The first cells are arranged in a grid pattern and housed in a first case,
4. The electric equipment system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second cells are baled and housed in a second case. In the first battery pack, N/2 of the first cells are connected in series,
The electrical equipment system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein in said second battery pack, said second cells are all connected in series. 6. The electrical equipment system according to claim 5, comprising a fourth battery pack containing N/2 of said first cells and having a fourth rated voltage substantially the same as said first rated voltage. 7. The electrical equipment system according to claim 6, wherein in said fourth battery pack, said first cells are all connected in series. The distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the second cells adjacent in the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction is longer than the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the first cells adjacent in the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. An electrical equipment system according to any one of the preceding claims. A second battery pack that can be connected to an electrical device main body in place of the first battery pack,
the first battery pack contains N first cells having a first outer diameter and has a first rated voltage;
The second battery pack houses N/2 second cells having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter, and a second battery pack substantially equal to the first rated voltage. has a rated voltage of
The first battery pack has a first separator holding the N first cells, and a first substrate fixed to the first separator with a first screw,
The second battery pack has a second separator holding the N/2 second cells, and a second substrate fixed to the second separator with a second screw. ,
the first screw extends between first cells that are vertically adjacent to each other;
the second screw extends between second cells that are vertically adjacent to each other;
The height of the second screw boss that engages with the second screw of the second separator is lower than the height of the first screw boss that engages with the first screw of the first separator. 2 battery packs. a second battery pack;
an electric device main body configured to select and connect either the first battery pack or the second battery pack,
the first battery pack contains N first cells having a first outer diameter and has a first rated voltage;
The second battery pack houses N/2 second cells having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter, and a second battery pack substantially equal to the first rated voltage. has a rated voltage of
The first battery pack has a first separator holding the N first cells, and a first substrate fixed to the first separator with a first screw,
The second battery pack has a second separator holding the N/2 second cells, and a second substrate fixed to the second separator with a second screw. ,
the first screw extends between first cells that are vertically adjacent to each other;
the second screw extends between second cells that are vertically adjacent to each other;
The electrical equipment system.

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