ELECTRIC POWER TOOL SYSTEM

• US 20120104991A1
• Filed: 10/25/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hitoshi, Umemura, Takuya
• Application Number:
  US13/281,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20120104991A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electric power tool system comprises a tool main body, a battery pack detachably attached to the tool main body and a first charger that charges the battery pack. The first charger is detachably attached to the tool main body and/or the battery pack. The first charger is capable of charging the battery pack while the battery pack is attached to the tool main body. The first charger is preferably cordless and contains at least rechargeable battery for storing energy to charge the battery pack.

Claims

1. An electric power tool system comprising:

a tool main body;

a battery pack detachably attached to the tool main body; and

a first charger configured to detachably attach to at least one of the tool main body and the battery pack and configured to charge the battery pack while the battery pack is attached to the tool main body.

2. The electric power tool system as in claim 1, further comprising a second charger configured to charge the battery pack while the battery pack is detached from the tool main body.

3. The electric power tool system as in claim 2, wherein the second charger is configured to charge the battery pack using a larger charging current than the first charger.

4. The electric power tool system as in claim 3, wherein:

the battery pack comprises a tool interface that is electrically connectable with the tool main body, and

the second charger comprises a battery interface that is electrically connectable with the tool interface of the battery pack.

5. The electric power tool system as in claim 1, wherein:

the tool main body comprises a first interface that is electrically connectable with the first charger, and

the first interface of the tool main body is also configured to be electrically connectable with the battery pack while the battery pack is attached to the tool main body.

6. The electric power tool system as in claim 1, wherein:

the tool main body comprises a battery pack interface,

the battery pack comprises a tool interface configured to attach to the battery pack interface to supply current to the tool main body,

the battery pack further comprises a first charger interface configured to attach to a battery pack interface of the first charger while the battery pack is attached to the tool main body, and

the first charger is adapted to supply charging current to the battery pack while the battery pack is attached to the tool main body.

7. The electric power tool system as in claim 6, wherein:

the first charger interface is configured to attach to a first charger interface of the second charger and

the second charger is configured to supply charging current to the battery pack while the battery pack is attached to the tool main body.

8. The electric power tool system as in claim 7, wherein:

the first charger further comprises a second charger interface configured to attach to the first charger interface of the second charger, and

the second charger is configured to supply charging current to the first charger while the battery pack is attached to the tool main body and the first charger is attached to the battery pack.

9. The electric power tool system as in claim 8, wherein the battery pack is configured to output a nominal power of at least 300 Watts and the first charger comprises a plurality of series-connected battery cells adapted to store sufficient charge to completely recharge the battery pack at least twice.

10. The electric power tool system as in claim 9, wherein the battery pack has a nominal voltage between about 10-30 volts.

11. The electric power tool system as in claim 10, wherein the battery pack has a nominal output current equal to or greater than 10 amps.

12. The electric power tool system as in claim 11, wherein the battery pack has a nominal capacity of at least 0.5 amp-hour.

13. The electric power tool system as in claim 12, wherein:

the battery pack comprises at least one first lithium ion battery cell,

the first charger comprises at least one second lithium ion battery cell, and

the at least one first lithium ion battery cell has a higher maximum current output, but a lower charge storage capacity, than the at least one second lithium ion battery cell.

14. The electric power tool system as in claim 13, wherein the electric power tool is one of an electric drill, an electric impact driver, an electric screw driver, an electric impact wrench, an electric grinder, an electric circular saw, an electric reciprocating saw, an electric jig saw, an electric band saw, an electric hammer, an electric cutter, an electric chain saw, an electric planer, an electric nailer, an electric rivet guns, an electric stapler, an electric shears, an electric hedge trimmer, an electric lawn clipper, an electric lawn mower, an electric brush cutter, an electric blower, an electric flashlight, an electric concrete vibrator and an electric vacuum cleaner.

15. The electric power tool system as in claim 1, wherein the battery pack is configured to output a nominal power of at least 300 Watts and the first charger comprises a plurality of series-connected battery cells adapted to store sufficient charge to completely recharge the battery pack at least twice.

16. The electric power tool system as in claim 1, wherein the battery pack has a nominal voltage between about 10-30 volts, a nominal output current equal to or greater than 10 amps and a nominal capacity of at least 0.5 amp-hour.

17. The electric power tool system as in claim 1, wherein:

the battery pack comprises at least one first lithium ion battery cell,

the first charger comprises at least one second lithium ion battery cell, and

the at least one first lithium ion battery cell has a higher maximum current output, but a lower charge storage capacity, than the at least one second lithium ion battery cell.

20. A method for recharging the electric power tool system according to claim 1, comprising:

supplying charging current from one of the first charger or a second charger to the battery pack while the battery pack is attached to the tool main body.

18. A cordless power tool system comprising:

a tool main body,

a tool mounted on or in the tool main body,

at least one of a motor and a solenoid disposed within the tool main body and configured to movably drive the tool,

a battery pack detachably attachable to the tool main body and configured to supply driving current to the at least one of the motor and the solenoid; and

a first charger configured to detachably attach to at least one of the tool main body and the battery pack and configured to charge the battery pack while the battery pack is attached to the tool main body.

19. The cordless power tool system as in claim 18, wherein:

the tool main body comprises a battery pack interface,

the battery pack comprises a tool interface configured to attach to the battery pack interface to supply the driving current to the motor,

the battery pack further comprises a first charger interface configured to attach to a battery pack interface of the first charger while the battery pack is attached to the tool main body, and

the first charger is adapted to supply charging current to the battery pack while the battery pack is attached to the tool main body.