POWER ADAPTER FOR CORDLESS POWER TOOLS

• US 20150042280A1
• Filed: 03/19/2013
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: Rief, Joachim, Mnch, Corinna, Rudolph, Peter, Zeller, Tobias, Laible, Fritz
• Application Number:
  US14/385,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20150042280A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/113
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/20 Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders structural combination of accumulators with charging apparatus H01M10/46
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The present application is directed in particular to a power adapter, adapted to be connected on the one hand to a power interface of a cordless power tool and adapted to be connected on the other hand to an energy source, in particular mobile energy source, for electrically power the power tool via the power adapter.

Claims

1. Power adapter to be mounted in a cordless electrical power tool for electrically powering the power tool, the power adapter comprising

an electrical interface to be electrically connected to a power interface of the cordless power tool and

another electrical interface to be electrically connected to a battery assembly to be carried such as a backpack battery assembly or a belt battery assembly,

wherein in an indirect powering operation no battery is present in the power adapter or power tool itself, but the power tool is powered by the battery assembly through the power adapter.

2. Power adapter according to claim 1, further comprising at least one balancing weight for weight balancing the power tool in the indirect powering operation.

3. Power adapter according to claim 2, comprising a housing adapted to accommodate, on an outer or inner side, the balancing weight in the indirect powering operation.

4. Power adapter according to claim 2, comprising a fixture unit into or onto which the balancing weight is fixed into a receiving space enclosed by a side wall, wherein the fixture unit comprises a first fixture sub-unit and a second fixture sub-unit connectable by fastening elements to form the fixing unit and wherein the at least one balancing weight is fixed to the first fixture sub-unit or second fixture unit before connection of the two fixture sub-units or arranged in an inner space between the first fixture sub-unit and the second fixture sub-unit.

5. Power adapter according to claim 3, wherein the housing is adapted to removably accommodate therein or thereon the fixture unit with the balancing weight.

6. Power adapter according to claim 3, wherein the housing comprises a base section and a cap or dome shaped cover configured to be connected to the base section to establish a casing for accommodating therein the balancing weight, wherein the balancing weight is mounted to the base section.

7. Power adapter according to claim 6, wherein the base section comprises a recess adapted to accommodate a printed circuit board, and further comprising a support plate adapted to support the balancing weight while bridging the recess, the support plate being adapted to bridge the recess via flanges or webs supported laterally adjacent to the recess.

8. Power adapter according to claim 6, comprising a retaining bracket adapted and configured for bracket fastening the balancing weight to or against the base section, wherein the retaining bracket comprises support sections protruding from the retaining bracket, and adapted to support the retaining bracket and balancing weight against at least one inner wall of the housing, wherein the support sections are further configured to act as cable support bars or wherein the retaining bracket comprises an integrated cable clamp section configured to clamp an electric supply cable of the power adapter.

9. Power adapter according to claim 7, wherein the base section comprises a cable bushing, which at the outer side of the base section is shaped as a cone or funnel shaped deepening.

10. Power adapter according to claim 1, wherein in a direct powering operation the power adapter comprises, instead of the at least one balancing weight, at least one battery for powering the power tool, wherein the weight of the battery is used for balancing the power tool.

11. Power adapter according to claim 1, being adapted to accommodate balancing weights of different mass in the indirect powering operation, which different masses are adapted to different battery masses in the direct powering operation.

12. Power adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a slewable cable outlet for an electrical cable.

13. Power adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit adapted to display a charging condition or one or more other parameters such as temperature of the energy source at least in the electrically connected state.

14. Power tool assembly comprising a power tool with a power interface to which a power adapter is removably coupled, the power adapter comprising:

an electrical interface to be electrically connected to a power interface of the cordless power tool and

another electrical interface to be electrically connected to a battery assembly to be carried such as a backpack battery assembly or a belt battery assembly,

wherein in an indirect powering operation no battery is present in the power adapter or power tool itself, but the power tool is powered by the battery assembly through the power adapter.

15. Energy source assembly comprising a backpack energy source, wherein the energy source is connected via a cable connection to a power adapter, the power adapter comprising:

an electrical interface to be electrically connected to a power interface of the cordless power tool and

another electrical interface to be electrically connected to a battery assembly to be carried such as a backpack battery assembly or a belt battery assembly,

wherein in an indirect powering operation no battery is present in the power adapter or power tool itself, but the power tool is powered by the battery assembly through the power adapter.

16. (canceled)