CORDLESS POWER SUPPLY

• US 20080018303A1
• Filed: 09/29/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elisa Sartori
• Original Assignee: Karl Scheucher
• Inventors: Scheucher, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 7,990,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0455 Removal or replacement of the energy storages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/667 the system being an electronic component, e.g. a CPU, an inverter or a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/251 specially adapted for stationary devices, e.g. power plant buffering or backup power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 : The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/40 : The network being an on-board power network, i.e. within a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 : the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 : characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 : with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 : the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A cordless power supply comprising a battery, a power conversion unit, a first standard coupling half permanently affixed to the power conversion unit and a second standard coupling half which reciprocally mates with the first standard coupling half is disclosed and claimed. The second standard coupling half includes a first interengaging half and a second interengaging half. The first interengaging half being standardly engageable with the first standard coupling half permanently affixed to the power conversion unit. The second interengaging half is interengageable with a specific battery. The battery may be a dual use cordless tool battery or an original equipment battery. Alternatively, a cordless power supply comprising an interchangeable adapter may be mounted on the power conversion unit for interconnection with a plurality of batteries. Alternatively, a cordless power supply comprising an adapter integral with the power conversion unit may be used with a specific battery type.

Claims

1. A cordless power supply comprising a power source and a power conversion unit, said power source releasably coupled to said power conversion unit with a quick disconnect fitting, said fitting comprising a first coupling half affixed to said power conversion unit intermatable with a second coupling half integral to said power source, said first and second halves being coupled or uncoupled, said first coupling half including second coupling half engaging surfaces and electrical conductors for communicating electrical power and/or information between said second coupling half engaging surfaces and said power conversion unit, such that, when coupled, said first and second coupling halves allow electrical power and/or information to be communicated between said power conversion unit and said power source.

2. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first coupling half selectively couples with one or more compatible power source types, each of said types has a compatible second coupling half.

3. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first coupling half is an integral part of said power conversion unit.

4. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first coupling half is affixed to said power conversion unit by field removable fasteners allowing a variety of different styles of first coupling halves to be field installed to said power conversion unit.

5. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first coupling half and said power conversion unit are interengageable with second coupling halves attached to electrically compatible power source types.

6. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 4, wherein one or more of said fasteners is made of an electrically conductive material and electrically connects one or more of said second coupling half engaging surfaces of said first coupling half with said power conversion unit, said fasteners simultaneously mechanically and electrically connect said first coupling half, one or more second coupling half engaging surfaces of said first coupling half, and said power conversion unit.

7. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first coupling half comprises a first standard coupling half and a second standard coupling half.

said first standard coupling half being affixed to said power conversion unit,

said first standard coupling half having second standard coupling half engaging surfaces and electrical conductors for communicating electrical power and/or information between said second standard coupling half engaging surfaces and said power conversion unit,

said second standard coupling half having a first connecting fixture allowing it to be mechanically and electrically coupled to and uncoupled from said first standard coupling half and said power conversion unit, said second standard coupling half having a second connecting fixture providing a tool side connection allowing it to be mechanically and electrically coupled to and uncoupled from said second coupling half and said power source, said second standard coupling half having electrical conductors communicating electrical power and/or information between said first and second connecting fixtures, said first standard coupling half, said power conversion unit, and said power source.

8. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first coupling half comprises adapting circuitry interposed between said second coupling half engaging surfaces and said electrical conductors.

9. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first standard coupling half comprises adapting circuitry interposed between said second standard coupling half engaging surfaces and said electrical conductors.

10. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 7 wherein said second standard coupling half comprises adapting circuitry interposed between said first and second connecting fixtures.

11. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein said power source is a cordless tool battery pack.

12. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein said power source is a power adapter comprising a second coupling half compatible with said first coupling half, an electrical cable, said cable connects to a second power source and conveys electrical power and/or information from said second power source to said second coupling half, said first coupling half, and said power conversion unit.

13. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 12 wherein said power adapter comprises power adapting circuitry interposed between said electrical cable and said second coupling half.

14. A power adapter comprising a battery side connector releasably coupled to the tool side connector of a power tool, an electrical cable, said cable connects to a second power source and conveys electrical power and/or information from said second power source to said battery side connector, said tool side connector, and said power tool.

15. A power adapter as claimed in claim 14 wherein adapting circuitry is interposed between said electrical cable and said battery side connector.

16. A process for coupling a power source to a power conversion unit comprising the steps of:

mounting a first coupling half to said power conversion unit;

establishing electrical communication between said first coupling half and said power conversion unit; and

,

coupling the second coupling half of a power source to said first coupling half establishing electrical communication between said first coupling half, said second coupling half, said power source, and said power conversion unit.

17. A process for coupling a power source to a power conversion unit as claimed in claim 16 wherein the steps of mounting a first coupling half to said power conversion unit and establishing electrical communication between said first coupling half and said power conversion unit further comprises the steps of:

mounting a first standard coupling half to said power conversion unit;

establishing electrical communication between said first standard coupling half and said power conversion unit; and

,

coupling a second standard coupling half to said first standard coupling half establishing electrical communication between said first and second standard coupling halves, the combination of said first and second standard coupling halves function together as said first coupling half.

18. A process for coupling a power source to a power conversion unit as claimed in claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

removing said first coupling half from said power conversion unit and re-mounting another first coupling half to said power conversion unit.

19. A process for coupling a power source to a power conversion unit as claimed in claim 16 wherein said power source is a cordless tool battery.

20. A process for coupling a power source to a power conversion unit as claimed in claim 16 wherein said power source is a power adapter comprising a second coupling half compatible with said first coupling half, an electrical cable, said cable connects to a second power source and conveys electrical power and/or information from said second power source to said second coupling half, said first coupling half, and said power conversion unit.