JP3223883B2 - Battery pack - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery pack for storing a battery suitable for use as a DC power source for electric equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional battery pack will be described with reference to an example described in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-52555 by the same applicant as the present applicant. FIG. 6 shows such a battery pack 1
0 indicates a state in which the battery is charged by being attached to the charger 12, and FIG. 7 shows an example of the charger 12.

The battery charger 12 is a molded product made of plastic and has a hole 51 for receiving the battery pack 10. The charger 12 has a primary circuit section 52 having a power transformer and the like and a secondary circuit section 53 having a rectifier circuit and the like.
Further, A with a plug connected to the primary circuit section 52
It has a C code 54.

The secondary circuit unit 53 has an adapter plug 55 for supplying DC power and a first terminal 56 for supplying charging power.
, A second terminal 57, and a third terminal 58 for inputting a temperature detection signal. The adapter plug 55 is provided so that the electric device can rectify the AC power and use the DC power directly without using the battery pack 10.

The three terminals 56 to 58 are formed, for example, as leaf springs so that they can be elastically deformed. The spring constant of the third terminal 58 is determined by the first and second terminals 56 and 57. About 2/3 of the spring constant. The first to third terminals 56 to 58 are connected to the mold plate 60.
And the mold plate 60 has a color “blue” or the like different from the color “black” of the case 59 of the battery pack 10.

Further, a control circuit is provided in the secondary circuit section 53, and the control circuit operates so as to control the charging of the battery in the battery pack 10. When the charging is started, the first terminal 56 is connected to the first terminal 56. The control is performed based on a so-called −ΔV charging completion method in which the charging between the second terminal 57 and the second terminal 57 gradually increases, reaches a peak value, and ends when the charging voltage slightly decreases. It is configured.

Incidentally, such a control circuit is a battery pack 10
The temperature of the battery being charged is detected based on a temperature detection signal from a temperature detection element provided on the bottom surface of the first and second terminals 56 and 5 when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value.
The charging current supplied from the battery 7 to the battery is interrupted, and the charging by the charger 12 is interrupted.

[0008] The battery pack 10 has a case 18 composed of an upper case 14 and a bottom case 16, and is configured such that a plurality of batteries are housed inside the case 18.

FIG. 8 shows the battery pack 10 and a state in which cylindrical batteries 21 to 25 are housed therein. FIG. 8A shows the battery pack 10 with the bottom case 16 removed.
8B shows a cross section of the battery pack 10 taken along line AA in FIG. 8A.

The batteries 21 to 25 may be, for example, nickel-metal hydride secondary batteries, and are arranged in parallel as shown. The electrodes of the batteries 21 to 25 are connected by a conductive plate 32, and thus the five batteries 21 to 25 are configured as a battery pack 27 electrically connected to each other in series. still,
An insulating sheet 34 is disposed between the electrodes of the batteries 21 to 25 and the conductive plate 32.

The battery pack 27 has a positive and negative first electrode 36 and a second electrode 38 for charging and discharging, respectively, and a thermistor or the like below the two electrodes 36, 38. The temperature detecting element 42 and a breaker (not shown) are disposed. The first and second electrodes 36 and 38, the temperature detecting element 42, a breaker (not shown) and the like are supported by a mold member 44 arranged between the two batteries 21 and 22.

The electrodes 36 and 38 of the battery pack 27 constitute output terminals of the battery pack 10.
Output terminals 36 and 38 are used instead of 38.

On the lower side of the battery 21, a third electrode 40 for outputting a temperature detection signal is arranged. The third electrode 40 is formed in a thin plate shape to form a leaf spring, and may be directly adhered to the battery 21 with an adhesive or may be mounted on the mold member 44.

The temperature detecting element 42 has two lead wires 42
A and 42B are connected, and the temperature detecting element 42 is connected to the first electrode 36 by the first lead wire 42A,
The temperature detecting element 42 is connected to the third lead wire 42B by the third lead wire 42B.
Is connected to the electrode 40.

A battery pack 27 and three electrodes 36, 38, 4
0 is arranged so as to contact the inner surface of the upper case 14.

FIG. 9 shows the bottom of the case 18, that is, the bottom case 16.
2 shows the configuration of the outer surface. The outer surface of the bottom case 16 has eleven recesses 16A to 16K and three holes 16a, 16b, 16c.
Are formed, of which two holes 16a and 16b are formed in the recesses 16D and 16E, respectively.

The three holes 16a, 16b, and 16c are formed at positions corresponding to the three electrodes 36, 38, and 40 of the battery pack 10. Therefore, the case 18 is assembled by covering the upper case 14 with the bottom case 16. , Battery 2 inside
When 1 to 25 are arranged, three electrodes 36, 38, 40
Are exposed from the corresponding three holes 16a, 16b, 16c.

Eight recesses 16C to 16J and two holes 16
a and 16b are arranged corresponding to the gaps 28A to 28D of the batteries 21 to 25.

The outer surface of the bottom case 16 is adjacent to the three electrodes as shown in FIG.
These are formed by providing irregularities on the surface of the plastic when it is molded.

The bottom case 16 has, for example, an overall color of "black" and a dotted line 20 surrounding the three holes 16a, 16b, 16c as another color "blue".

As shown in FIG. 7, convex portions 61A, 61B, and 61C are formed on the bottom surface of the hole 51 of the charger 12, and the convex portions 61A, 61B, and 61C of the battery pack 10 correspond to the convex portions 61A, 61B, and 61C. It is arranged to engage with the recesses 16I, 16G, 16H.

Of the recesses 16I, 16G, 16H, the outer recesses 16I, 16G are called detection holes, and the inner larger recess 16H is called a lock hole. The detection holes 16I and 16G are provided so that the battery pack 10
It functions to detect whether it conforms to 2 or not.

In the battery pack compatible with the charger 12, the two convex portions 61A and 61B are connected to the corresponding detection holes 1A.
6I and 16G, respectively, and the bottom surface of the battery pack 10 contacts the bottom surface of the hole 51 of the charger 12, but the two convex portions 61A and 61B of the battery pack 10 not compatible with the charger 12 Recess 16
I, 16G, the bottom surface of the battery pack 10 is raised above the bottom surface of the hole 51 of the charger 12.

The lock hole 16H functions to support the battery pack 10 so that the battery pack 10 mounted on the charger 12 does not move during charging.

Battery pack 10 compatible with charger 12
Are attached, the holes 16a, 16b, 1
6c, three electrodes 36, 38 of the assembled battery 27,
Reference numeral 40 denotes three terminals 56, 57, and 5 of the charger 12, respectively.
Touch 8.

As described above, the three electrodes 36, 38, 4
At least one of the zero and three terminals 56, 57, 58 is made of an elastically deformable member such as a leaf spring.
Contact between the two can be ensured by the biasing force of such a member. As described above, the spring constant of the third terminal 58 is smaller than that of the other terminals, so that even when the battery pack 10 having no third electrode is mounted on the charger 12, The bottom surface of the battery pack 10 is not damaged.

In the example described here, the battery pack 1
The bottom case 16 of the charger 0 is provided with detection holes 16I and 16G, and depending on whether or not the projections 61A and 61B on the bottom surface of the hole 51 of the charger 12 are suitably engaged with the detection holes 16I and 16G.
It is detected whether or not the battery pack 10 is compatible with the charger 12. Such a configuration is used not only between the battery pack 10 and the charger 12 but also between the battery pack 10 and an electric device that uses the battery pack 10 as a power source.

[0028]

In the battery pack 10 described above, as shown in FIG.
The zero electrodes 36 and 38, that is, the output terminals are arranged so as to be exposed from the holes 16a and 16b.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show another example of the battery pack 10. FIG. In the example of these battery packs 10,
The electrodes 36 and 38, that is, the output terminals are arranged at positions different from the example shown in FIG. However, the electrodes 36, 3
8, that is, the output terminal is exposed and mounted on the outer surface of the case.

Therefore, a conductive metal article, for example, a key holder, a necklace, a chain, etc., comes into contact with the electrodes 36, 38, that is, the output terminals, and short-circuits the battery 36.
There was a risk that the battery inside would be damaged.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the electrodes 36, 38
That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack in which a conductive metal article such as a key holder, a necklace, a chain, or the like does not contact an output terminal to cause a short circuit.

[0032]

A battery pack according to the present invention has a case for accommodating a battery, a recess provided at a corner on the front side in the mounting direction of the case with respect to the device, and a bottom formed at the bottom of the recess. A hole; and a cylindrical output terminal disposed in the hole along the mounting direction.

[0033] The battery pack of the present invention comprises a case for accommodating a battery, first and second recesses provided at the corners on the front side in the mounting direction of the case with respect to the device, and the first and second recesses. First and second formed respectively on the bottom surface of
And a cylindrical output terminal disposed in each of the first and second holes along the mounting direction.

The output terminals 36, 38 are provided with holes 84, 86 formed in the bottom surfaces of the concave portions 80, 82 provided on the outer surface of the case.
Key ring, necklace,
Output terminals 36 and 38 are made of conductive metal articles such as chains.
Is prevented from contacting.

[0035]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Note that in FIGS.
Corresponding portions in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an example of a battery pack 10 according to the present invention. The battery pack 10 includes a case 18 composed of an upper case 14 and a bottom case 16. In this example, two cylindrical batteries are contained in the battery pack 10.
They are arranged in rows and are configured to accommodate a total of two batteries. Such two batteries may be electrically connected to each other in series to form a battery pack.

On the periphery of the bottom surface 16-3 of the bottom case 16, the ribs 120a, 122a, 124a, 126a (124
a, 126a) are shown.
24 and 126 (only the holes 124 and 126 are shown) are formed in the battery pack 1.
When the battery pack 0 is mounted on the battery storage section of the electric device, the corresponding projection formed on the battery storage section is received.

The front end 16-1 of the bottom case 16 has a bottom 1
Concave portions 80 and 82 are formed near the corner with 6-3, and the first and second cylindrical electrodes 36 and 38 of the assembled battery are disposed on the bottom surfaces of the concave portions 80 and 82. I have.

The electrodes 36 and 38 function as charging electrodes when the battery pack 10 is mounted on a charger and charged, and function as power supply electrodes when the battery pack 10 is mounted on an electric device and power is supplied. I do.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the front end of the battery pack 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 and shows a configuration example of the first electrode 36 arranged in the recess 80. FIG. 2A shows the bottom case 16.
2B is a partial cross-sectional view of the front end 16-1 of FIG.

A substantially circular hole 84 is formed in the bottom surface of the recess 80, and the battery pack 1 is inserted into the hole 84.
The first electrode 36 is arranged along the 0 mounting direction. Although not shown, the second electrode 38 disposed in the substantially circular hole 86 formed on the bottom surface of the concave portion 82
May be the same as the configuration shown in FIG. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent conductive metal articles such as a key holder, a necklace, and a chain from coming into contact with the output terminals 36 and 38.

FIG. 3 shows the electrodes 36 of the battery pack 10,
An example of a connection terminal 90 for connecting to the connection 38 is shown. Such a connection terminal 90 is arranged in a battery housing of a charger or an electric device. The connection terminal 90 has a cylindrical shape corresponding to the hole of the battery pack 10 and the cylindrical electrodes 36 and 38, and two springs 92A and 92A are provided on the cylindrical surface.
B is provided.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show another example of the battery pack of the present invention. In this example, the electrodes 36 and 38, that is, the output terminals are arranged at the front end 16-1 of the bottom case 16, and FIG.
Also, unlike the example shown in FIG. 2, the concave portions 80 and 82 are not formed.

As shown, the front end 16 of the bottom case 16 is
-1, holes 102 and 104 are formed, and the electrodes 36 and 38 are arranged slightly inward from the holes 102 and 104. The electrodes 36, 38 are suitably shaped to receive and securely contact a connection terminal 90 of a corresponding charger or battery housing of an electrical device.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, holes 102, 10 in bottom case 16 are received so as to receive connection terminals 90 having a rectangular cross section.
The electrode 4 is formed in a rectangular shape, the electrodes 36 and 38 are made of a thin plate material curved in a U-shape, and contact portions 36A and 38A having a reduced cross section are formed at the entrance.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, holes 102, 10 in bottom case 16 are received so as to receive connection terminals 90 having a circular cross section.
The electrode 4 is formed in a circular shape, and the electrodes 36 and 38 are formed of a thin plate having a cylindrical shape.
B and 38B are formed. At the entrances of the cylindrical electrodes 36 and 38, contact portions 36A and 38A each having a reduced cross section are formed.

Thus, the output terminals of the battery pack 10, that is, the electrodes 36 and 38, are disposed inside the holes or recesses formed on the outer surface thereof. Therefore, a conductive metal article such as a key holder, a necklace or a chain does not contact the two output terminals 36 and 38 and short-circuit them.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and may adopt various other configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Will be understood.

[0049]

According to the present invention, according to the present invention, the holes 84, 82 formed in the bottom surfaces of the concave portions 80, 82 formed in the battery pack 10,
Since the output terminals or electrodes 36 and 38 are arranged in the holes 86, a conductive metal article such as a key holder, a necklace, a chain, or the like can be used with a simple configuration.
There is an advantage that contact with the surface 38 is prevented.

According to the present invention, a key holder, a necklace,
Since a conductive metal article such as a chain is prevented from contacting, there is an advantage that the battery of the battery pack 10 is prevented from being damaged by a short circuit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a battery pack of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a part of the battery pack of FIG. 1 in detail;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection terminal inserted into a hole of a battery pack.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another configuration example of the battery pack of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing still another configuration example of the battery pack of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional battery pack mounted on a charger.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a charger.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional battery pack.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing an example of a conventional battery pack.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of a conventional battery pack.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of a conventional battery pack.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 battery pack, 12 charger, 14 upper case, 16 bottom case, 16─1 front end, 16
─2 rear end, 16─3 bottom, 16A, 16B,
16C, 16D, 16E, 16F recess, 16G, 1
6H, 16I, 16J, 16K recess (detection hole, lock hole), 16a, 16b, 16c hole, 18 case,
20 dotted lines, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 batteries, 27 batteries, 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D
Gap, 32 conductive plate, 34 insulating sheet, 36
Electrode (output terminal), 36A contact part, 36B slit, 38 electrode (output terminal), 38A contact part,
38B slit, 40 electrodes (output terminal), 42
Temperature detecting element, 42A, 42B lead wire, 44
Mold member, 51 hole, 52 primary circuit,
53 Secondary circuit section, 54 AC code, 56,5
7,58 terminals, 59 cases, 60 mold plates,
61A, 61B, 61C convex, 80, 82 concave, 84, 86 hole, 90 terminal, 92A, 92
B spring, 102, 104 hole, 120, 122, 1
24,126 holes

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-335036 (JP, A) JP-A-5-335010 (JP, A) JP-A-5-290828 (JP, A) JP-A-5-290828 205712 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Showa 61-1117464 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 62-74752 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01M 2/34 H01M 2 / 10 H01M 2/30

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A case in which a battery pack is stored,
A concave portion provided at a corner of a front surface of the case in the mounting direction with respect to the device, a hole formed in the bottom surface of the concave portion, a cylindrical output terminal arranged in the hole along the mounting direction, A battery pack including a slit provided on a side surface of a terminal.