Electric power mower

• US 9,282,695 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2014
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: Goto, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US14/452,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20140366501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 56/105, 56/119, 56/108, 180/65.1, 180/19.1, 180/206.1, 180/220, 320/104, 320/115, 320/137
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/00 Mowers combined with apparatus performing additional operations while mowing A01D37/00 - A01D41/00, A01D43/00; convertible to apparatus for purposes other than mowing or capable of performing operations other than mowing A01D42/00; Mowing apparatus of harvesters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/30 Trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/34 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/46 Vehicles with auxiliary ad-on propulsions, e.g. add-on electric motor kits for bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/10 in which the load is intended to be transferred totally to the wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/18 in which the load is disposed between the wheel axis and the handles, e.g. wheelbarrows
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0053 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/55 power-driven at crank shafts parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/60 power-driven at axle parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• 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 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An electric wheeled apparatus comprises a main body, at least one wheel supported by the main body in a rotatable manner; an electric motor configured to apply torque to the at least one wheel, a battery interface configured to removably receive at least one battery pack which is originally designed as a power source of an electric power tool, and an electric circuit unit configured to electrically connect the at least one battery pack attached to the battery interface with the electric motor.

Claims

1. An electric power mower, comprising

a cutter configured to cut grasses;

a main body configured to support the cutter;

at least one wheel supported by the main body in a rotatable manner;

an electric motor configured to apply torque to the at least one wheel;

a battery interface configured to removably receive a plurality of battery packs including a first battery pack and a second battery pack each of the first and second battery packs being originally designed as a power source of a handheld electric power tool; and

an electric circuit unit configured to electrically connect at least the first and second battery packs attached to the battery interface with the electric motor whereby the at least one wheel is driven by electric power supplied from the first and second battery packs.

2. The electric power mower as in claim 1, wherein the battery interface is configured to receive the plurality of battery packs while the plurality of battery packs are detached from the handheld electric power tool.

3. The electric power mower as in claim 1, wherein both the at least one wheel and the cutter are configured to be driven by the electric power supplied from the first and second battery packs.

4. The electric power mower as in claim 1, wherein the electric motor is configured to be able to apply torque to both the at least one wheel and the cutter.

5. The electric power mower as in claim 1, wherein the electric circuit unit is configured to be able to form a parallel connection circuit in which the first battery pack is electrically connected to the second battery pack in parallel.

6. The electric power mower as in claim 1, wherein the electric circuit unit is configured to be able to form a series connection circuit in which the first battery pack is electrically connected to the second battery pack in series.

7. The electric power mower as in claim 1, wherein the electric circuit unit is configured to be selectively switched to form any one of a parallel connection circuit in which the first battery pack is electrically connected to the second battery pack in parallel and a series connection circuit in which the first battery pack is electrically connected to the second battery pack in series.

8. The electric power mower as in claim 1, further comprising a grip provided with the main body and configured such that a user grasps the grip and pushes the electric power mower.

9. The electric power mower as in claim 8, wherein the electric circuit unit is configured to supply electric power to the electric motor only while the user grasps the grip.

10. The electric power mower as in claim 8, wherein the electric circuit unit is configured to control electric power supply to the electric motor in accordance with a force applied from the user to the grip.

11. The electric power mower as in claim 8, further comprising a grip sensor disposed on the grip and configured to detect whether or not the user grasps the grip, wherein the electric circuit unit is electrically connected to the grip sensor.

12. A combination comprising:

a handheld electric power tool;

at least one battery pack configured to be detachably attached to the electric power tool; and

the electric power mower as in claim 1, the at least one battery pack being configured to be selectively attached to one of the handheld electric power tool and the battery interface of the electric power mower.

13. The combination as in claim 12, wherein the handheld electric power tool is any one selected from a group consisting of an electric drill, an electric screwdriver, an electric wrench, an electric grinder, an electric hammer, an electric circular saw, an electric reciprocal saw, an electric chain saw, an electric impact hammer, an electric garden tool and an electric blower.

14. An electric power mower, comprising

a cutter configured to cut grasses;

a main body configured to support the cutter;

at least one wheel supported by the main body in a rotatable manner;

an electric motor configured to apply torque to the cutter;

a battery interface configured to removably receive a plurality of battery packs including a first battery pack and a second battery pack, each of the first and second battery packs being originally designed as a power source of a handheld electric power tool; and

an electric circuit unit configured to electrically connect at least the first and second battery packs attached to the battery interface with the electric motor whereby the cutter is driven by electric power supplied from the first and second battery packs.

15. The electric power mower as in claim 14, wherein the electric circuit unit is configured to be able to form a parallel connection circuit in which the first battery pack is electrically connected to the second battery pack in parallel.

16. The electric power mower as in claim 14, wherein the electric circuit unit is configured to be able to form a series connection circuit in which the first battery pack is electrically connected to the second battery pack in series.

17. The electric power mower as in claim 14, wherein the electric circuit unit is configured to be selectively switched to form any one of a parallel connection circuit in which the first battery pack is electrically connected to the second battery pack in parallel and a series connection circuit in which the first battery pack is electrically connected to the second battery pack in series.