Universal power tool battery pack coupled to a portable internal combustion engine

• US 9,276,438 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grant, Jeffrey P., Forster, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Julio Gonzalez
• Application Number:
  US14/299,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20140284936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.A, 290/34, 290/38.R, 322/10, 322/16, 322/29, 439/504, 439/500, 320/112, 320/114, 320/137
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/04 for electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/047 Movable engine-generator combinations on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0862 characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/14 Starting of engines by means of electric starters with external current supply F02N11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0888 DC/DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1415 with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle

Abstract

A portable internal combustion engine and a charging device that generates AC power are supported on a manually movable frame. A coupling mechanism which can include a starter circuit and starting device, or a charging circuit and charging device, or both device couples a battery receptacle terminal block to the internal combustion engine. The battery receptacle can include various features to permit and retain electrical coupling between a battery pack for a cordless power tool. For example, key protrusions and corresponding recesses can be associating with latching projections. Additionally or alternatively, cooperating rails and recesses may be associated with the battery pack and receptacle, respectively. Spring loaded movable clips or resilient flexing clips can be included to act on the battery pack. An electrical cord may also be used to couple receptacle terminals to the coupling mechanism.

Claims

1. An electro-mechanical device comprising:

an internal combustion engine supported on a manually movable frame;

at least one receptacle terminal block associated with the manually movable frame via a cord that extends from the frame with each receptacle terminal block located at an end of the cord spaced from the frame, each receptacle terminal block coupled to the internal combustion engine via a coupling mechanism, each receptacle terminal block comprising a terminal end defined by two opposite lateral side walls and a terminal face extending generally perpendicular to and between the two opposite lateral side walls, a positive receptacle contact being associated with the terminal face and adjacent one of the two opposite lateral side walls, a negative receptacle contact being associated with the terminal face and adjacent the other of the two opposite lateral side walls;

a battery pack for a cordless power tool having a battery terminal block associated with an end of a recessed area of an upper side of the battery pack, the battery terminal block comprising a positive battery contact located and configured to make electrical contact with the positive receptacle contact, and a negative battery contact located and configured to make electrical contact with the negative receptacle contact when the battery terminal block mates with the receptacle terminal block;

wherein the coupling mechanism is one of;

a starting circuit electrically coupling the positive and negative contacts to a starting device during a starting operation, the starting device being coupled to the internal combustion engine and being configured to start the internal combustion engine using electrical power provided by the cordless power tool battery pack during the starting operation;

a charging circuit electrically coupling the positive and negative contacts to a charging device during a charging operation, the charging device being coupled to the internal combustion engine and being configured to charge the cordless power tool battery pack during the charging operation;

or both.

2. The electro-mechanical device of claim 1, wherein the cord is long enough to permit the battery pack to rest on a ground surface adjacent the electro-mechanical device when the battery pack is coupled to the receptacle terminal block.

3. The electro-mechanical device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle terminal block comprises a recess in an offset intermediate position of the terminal face between the positive and negative receptacle contacts;

and wherein the battery terminal block further comprises a divider wall in an offset intermediate position between the positive and negative battery contacts and configured to extend into the recess when the battery pack is inserted into the battery receptacle.

4. The electro-mechanical device of claim 3, wherein the receptacle terminal block further comprises a temperature receptacle contact associated with the terminal face and located between one of the first and second walls and the recess;

and wherein the battery pack further comprises a temperature battery contact located between one of the positive and negative battery contacts and the divider wall, the temperature battery contact being configured to make electrical contact with the temperature receptacle contact.

5. The electro-mechanical device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle terminal block further comprises a first receptacle temperature contact associated with the terminal face and adjacent the positive receptacle contact, and a second receptacle temperature contact associated with the terminal face and adjacent the positive receptacle contact;

and wherein the battery pack further comprises a first battery temperature contact configured to electrically couple with the first receptacle temperature contact and a second battery temperature contact configured to electrically couple with the second receptacle temperature contact, when the battery pack is received in the battery receptacle.

6. The electro-mechanical device of claim 5, wherein the receptacle terminal block further comprises a protrusion centrally located on the terminal face between the first and second receptacle temperature contacts;

and wherein the battery pack further comprises an arm associated with a manually actuatable push button, and wherein the arm pushes on the protrusion to facilitate release of the battery pack from the battery receptacle, upon manual actuation of the push button.

7. The electro-mechanical device of claim 1, wherein at least two receptacle terminal blocks are provided.

8. The electro-mechanical device of claim 7, wherein one of the at least two receptacle terminal blocks further comprises a recess in an offset intermediate position of the terminal face between the positive and negative receptacle contacts.

9. The electro-mechanical device of claim 7, wherein one of the at least two receptacle terminal blocks further comprises a temperature receptacle contact associated with the terminal face and located between one of the positive and negative receptacle contacts and a recess in the terminal face;

and wherein the other one of the at least two receptacle terminal blocks further comprises, a first receptacle temperature contact associated with the terminal face and adjacent the positive receptacle contact, and a second receptacle temperature contact associated with the terminal face and adjacent the positive receptacle contact and spaced away from the first receptacle contact.

10. The electro-mechanical device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the receptacle terminal blocks includes a plurality of terminal block ends with one of the terminal block ends configured to receive one type of battery terminal block and another of the terminal block ends configured to receive a different type of battery terminal block.