ELECTRIC POWER TOOL POWERED BY BATTERY PACK AND ADAPTER THEREFOR

• US 20130025893A1
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: Ota, Tomoyuki, Hira, Shinichi, Makihara, Tadashi
• Granted Patent: US 9,224,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 173/2
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• 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 adapter for an electric power tool couples battery packs with the electric power tool. The adapter is provided with a voltage regulator circuit interposed between the battery packs and the electric power tool. The voltage regulator circuit regulates a supply voltage from the battery packs to the electric power tool to a level corresponding to a rated voltage of the electric power tool. The voltage regulator is capable of raising the supply voltage higher than nominal voltages of the battery packs.

Claims

1. An adapter for coupling at least one battery pack with an electric power tool, the adapter comprising:

a battery-side unit configured to attach the at least one battery pack and be electrically connected to the at least one battery pack that is attached;

a tool-side unit configured to attach the electric power tool and be electrically connected to the attached electric power tool; and

a voltage regulator circuit configured to be interposed between the at least one battery pack attached to the battery-side unit and the electric power tool attached to the tool-side unit, and regulate a supply voltage from the at least one battery pack to the electric power tool to a level corresponding to a rated voltage of the electric power tool.

2. The adapter as in claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator circuit is configured to cause the supply voltage from the at least one battery pack to be higher than any nominal voltage of the at least one battery pack.

3. The adapter as in claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator circuit comprises means for detecting a nominal voltage of each battery pack, and is configured to change a mode of operation according to the respective nominal voltage that is detected.

4. The adapter as in claim 3, wherein the at least one battery pack each comprises storing means for storing data indicative of the nominal voltage, and the voltage regulator circuit is configured to read the data from the storing means of each battery pack to detect the nominal voltage of each battery pack.

5. The adapter as in claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator circuit comprises means for detecting a rated voltage of the electric power tool, and is configured to regulate the supply voltage in at least two levels according to the detected rated voltage.

6. The adapter as in claim 1, wherein the electric power tool comprises storing means for storing data indicative of the rated voltage, and the voltage regulator circuit is configured to read the data from the storing means of the electric power tool to detect the rated voltage of the electric power tool.

7. The adapter as in claim 1, wherein:

the tool-side unit comprises at least a first tool-side unit and a second tool-side unit;

the first tool-side unit and the second tool-side unit are configured to be alternatively attachable to the battery-side unit;

the first tool-side unit is configured to be attachable to an electric power tool having a first rated voltage and not to be attachable to an electric power tool having a second rated voltage;

the second tool-side unit is configured to be attachable to the electric power tool having the second rated voltage and not to be attachable to the electric power tool having the first rated voltage; and

the voltage regulator circuit is configured to regulate the supply power to a level being substantially equal to the first rated voltage when the battery-side unit is attached to the first tool-side unit, and regulate the supply power to a level being substantially equal to the second rated voltage when the battery-side unit is attached to the second tool-side unit.

8. The adapter as in claim 7, wherein:

each tool-side unit is provided with storing means configured to store data by which an identification can be made from the other tool-side unit; and

the voltage regulator circuit is configured to read the data from the storing means of the tool-side unit to identify the tool-side unit attached to the battery-side unit.

9. The adapter as in claim 1, wherein:

the tool-side unit comprises at least a first tool-side unit and a second tool-side unit;

the first tool-side unit comprises a first electric cord having a tip end coupled with the first tool-side unit;

the second tool-side unit comprises a second electric cord having a tip end coupled with the second tool-side unit;

the battery-side unit comprises a first cord connection for a base end of the first electric cord, and a second cord connection for connecting for a base end of the second electric cord;

the first tool-side unit is configured to be attachable to an electric power tool having a first rated voltage and not to be attachable to an electric power tool having a second rated voltage;

the second tool-side unit is configured to be attachable to the electric power tool having the second rated voltage and not to be attachable to the electric power tool having the first rated voltage;

the base ends of the first and second electric cords have shapes different from one another;

the first cord connection is configured to accept the base end of the first electric cord, and not to accept the base end of the second electric cord;

the second cord connection is configured to accept the base end of the second electric cord, and not to accept the base end of the first electric cord; and

the voltage regulator circuit is configured to output a voltage regulated to a level being substantially equal to the first rated voltage from the first cord connection, and output a voltage regulated to a level being substantially equal to the second rated voltage from the second cord connection.

10. The adapter as in claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator circuit comprises means for detecting a number of battery packs attached to the battery-side unit, and is configured to change a mode of operation according to the detected number of battery packs.

11. The adapter as in claim 1, wherein:

the battery-side unit comprises a plurality of battery interfaces configured to detachably receive battery packs; and

the voltage regulator circuit is configured to electrically connect battery interfaces that have received the battery packs to one another, and disconnect a battery interface that has not received a battery pack from the battery interfaces that have received the battery packs.

18. The adapter as in claim 1, wherein the battery-side unit and the tool-side unit are electrically connected to each other via an electric cord.

12. An adapter for coupling a plurality of battery packs with an electric power tool, comprising:

a battery-side unit configured to attach the plurality of battery packs and be electrically connected to the attached battery packs;

a tool-side unit configured to attach the electric power tool and be electrically connected to the attached electric power tool; and

a battery connector circuit configured to be interposed between the plurality of battery packs attached to the battery-side unit and the electric power tool attached to the tool-side unit, and electrically connect at least some of the attached battery packs in parallel to regulate a supply voltage from the plurality of battery packs to the electric power tool to a level corresponding to a rated voltage of the electric power tool.

13. The adapter as in claim 12, wherein:

the battery-side unit is configured to be attachable to a battery pack having a nominal voltage equal to the rated voltage of the electric power tool, and not to be attachable to a battery pack tool having another nominal voltage; and

the battery connector circuit is configured to electrically connect all of the battery packs attached to the battery-side unit in parallel.

14. The adapter as in claim 12, wherein:

the battery-side unit comprises a plurality of battery interfaces configured to attachably/detachably receives the battery packs; and

the battery connector circuit comprises at least one switching element that is configured to electrically connect battery interfaces that have received the battery packs to one another, and disconnect a battery interface that has not received a battery pack from the battery interfaces that have received the battery packs.

15. The adapter as in claim 12, wherein the battery-side unit and the tool-side unit are electrically connected to each other via an electric cord.

16. An electric power tool powered by at least one battery pack, comprising:

a motor configured to drive a tool;

at least one battery interface configured to attach the at least one battery pack and be electrically connected to the at least one attached battery pack; and

a voltage regulator circuit configured to be interposed between the at least one battery pack attached to the at least one battery interface and the motor, and regulate a supply voltage from the at least one battery pack to the motor to a level corresponding to a rated voltage of the motor.

17. An electric power tool powered by a plurality of battery packs, comprising:

a motor configured to drive a tool;

a plurality of battery interfaces configured to attach the battery packs and be electrically connected to the attached battery packs; and

a battery connector circuit configured to be interposed between the plurality of battery packs attached to the battery interfaces and the motor, and electrically connect at least some of the attached battery packs in parallel to regulate a supply voltage from the plurality of battery packs to the motor to a level corresponding to a rated voltage of the motor.