A locking assembly, a battery pack and a locking and unlocking method thereof

Abstract

This application provides a locking assembly, a battery pack, and a locking and unlocking method thereof. The locking assembly includes: a locking member and an operating member. The locking member is disposed on a first guide structure and can move between a locked position and an unlocked position along a first direction under the guidance of the first guide structure. The operating member is convexly connected to the locking member to drive the locking member to move towards the unlocked position along the first direction. A first elastic member is used to drive the locking member to reset towards the locked position. A wedge member is disposed on the side of the locking member and can move along a second direction, which intersects with the first direction. A second elastic member is connected to the wedge member and is used to drive the wedge member to move towards the locking member so that the wedge member forms a lateral pressure on the locking member when the locking member is in the locked position. A secondary locking mechanism is disposed at a lateral corresponding position of the locking member, and the secondary locking mechanism cooperates with the locking member to form an additional locking constraint when in the activated state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of power tool technology, and more specifically, to a locking component, a battery pack, and a locking / unlocking method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, battery packs used with power tools typically achieve a fixed connection in the assembled state by engaging a locking component on the battery pack with a locking groove on the power tool. Most existing locking components use a single locking element that extends into the locking groove under the action of an elastic element to form a lock, and unlocking is achieved by a pressing actuation element that moves the locking element out of the groove. While this structure can perform basic assembly and disassembly functions, the overall locking method is relatively simple, and there is often a certain gap between the locking element and the guide structure. When the power tool is subjected to vibration, impact, or heavy load during operation, it is prone to shaking, abnormal noise, and local loosening, thus affecting locking stability and user experience. Furthermore, existing technologies generally lack structural designs that further enhance locking constraint on top of the main locking mechanism. When the power tool is under high vibration, high impact, or heavy load conditions, the locking element relies solely on a single locking action for retention, resulting in limited resistance to loosening and a risk of accidental displacement or even mis-locking.

[0003] The problem is: how to further improve the locking stability, vibration resistance, and connection reliability of the locking components under high load conditions, while ensuring a smooth unlocking process and avoiding jamming, based on the cooperation between the battery pack and the power tool lock slot. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application addresses the technical challenge of improving the locking stability, vibration resistance, and connection reliability under high load conditions of the locking assembly, while ensuring smooth unlocking and preventing jamming, based on the cooperation between the battery pack and the power tool lock slot. This application achieves improved locking stability, vibration resistance, and smooth unlocking by using wedge blocks to laterally press the locking components, a secondary locking mechanism to provide additional locking constraints, and ensuring the operating components release the secondary lock first, then the main lock.

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a locking assembly applied to a battery pack and used to engage with a locking groove on a power tool to achieve locking. The locking assembly includes: a locking member and an operating member. The locking member is disposed on a first guide structure and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position along a first direction under the guidance of the first guide structure. The operating member is convexly connected to the locking member to drive the locking member to move towards the unlocked position along the first direction. A first elastic member is used to drive the locking member to reset towards the locked position. A wedge member is disposed on the side of the locking member and is movable along a second direction intersecting the first direction. A second elastic member is connected to the wedge member and is used to drive the wedge member to move towards the locking member so that the wedge member forms a lateral pressure on the locking member when the locking member is in the locked position. A secondary locking mechanism is disposed at a lateral corresponding position of the locking member, and in the activated state, the secondary locking mechanism cooperates with the locking member to form an additional locking constraint.

[0006] Compared with existing technologies, the technical effects achieved by this solution are as follows: By adding a wedge block and a secondary locking mechanism outside the main locking structure, not only can the locking assembly reliably lock with the power tool lock groove, but it can also apply lateral clamping force to the locking member in the locked state and form additional locking constraints when needed, thereby significantly improving the overall stability, vibration resistance, and anti-loosening capability of the locking system. The second elastic element drives the wedge block to laterally clamp the locking member, which can effectively reduce the gap between the locking member and the first guide structure, reduce shaking and abnormal noise, and improve the tightness and stability of the locking connection. The secondary locking mechanism further restricts the unexpected displacement of the locking member in the activated state, which can enhance the holding capability of the locking assembly under impact, vibration, or large load conditions and reduce the risk of accidental unlocking.

[0007] In one possible design, the operating component includes a release part for releasing the secondary locking mechanism and a drive part for moving the locking component. The release part cooperates with the secondary locking mechanism, and the drive part cooperates with the locking component, so that during the unlocking process, the operating component first releases the additional locking constraint of the secondary locking mechanism on the locking component through the release part, and then drives the locking component to move towards the unlocking position along the first direction through the drive part. Furthermore, the wedge block is provided with a cooperating guide on the side near the locking component, so that when the locking component moves towards the unlocking position along the first direction, the wedge block moves along the second direction under the action of the cooperating guide and exits the pressing position on the locking component. The wedge block is disposed between the locking component and the first guide structure, and the second elastic member drives the wedge block to move towards the gap between the locking component and the first guide structure to form a lateral wedging of the locking component.

[0008] Compared with existing technologies, the technical effects achieved by this solution are as follows: By placing the wedge between the locking member and the first guide structure, and using the second elastic member to continuously drive the wedge to move into the gap between them, the wedge can form a stable lateral wedging effect on the locking member in the locked state. This effectively compresses the fit gap between the locking member and the first guide structure, improving the positioning stability and tightness of the locking member in the guide structure. This not only reduces the shaking, displacement, and abnormal noise of the locking member during vibration, impact, or repeated use, but also enhances the overall anti-loosening and holding capabilities of the locking assembly, making the locking state more secure and reliable. Meanwhile, the operating component is equipped with both a release part and a drive part, so that the unlocking process proceeds in the order of first releasing the additional locking constraint and then driving the locking part to retract from the lock groove. This not only ensures that the unlocking action is logically clear and the mechanical coordination is reliable, but also avoids jamming, wear, or operational difficulties caused by forcibly driving the locking part before the secondary lock is released. In particular, the guide part can guide the wedge block to exit the pressing position synchronously during the unlocking movement of the locking part, thereby making the unlocking process smoother and balancing locking reliability and operational convenience.

[0009] In one possible design, the operating component further includes an upper operating part, and the upper operating part and the driving part are arranged sequentially along the pressing direction. A fourth elastic element is provided between the upper operating part and the driving part. The upper operating part is connected to the release part and can drive the release part to move. The driving part is connected to the locking element, so that when the upper operating part is pressed, it first drives the secondary locking mechanism to release the additional locking constraint on the locking element through the release part, and after compressing the fourth elastic element, it drives the driving part and the locking element to move towards the unlocked position along the first direction.

[0010] Compared with existing technologies, the technical effects achieved by this solution are as follows: By dividing the operating component into an upper operating section and a driving section arranged sequentially along the pressing direction, and placing a fourth elastic element between them, the operating component can achieve a phased action of releasing the lock and then unlocking the device in a single pressing action. This effectively ensures that the release action of the secondary locking mechanism occurs before the exit action of the locking component. This not only avoids jamming, collision, and abnormal wear caused by directly driving the locking component to move before the additional locking constraint is released, but also improves the smoothness of the entire unlocking process and the reliability of the mechanical coordination. Furthermore, the fourth elastic element provides elastic buffering and action transition between the upper operating section and the driving section, making the force transmission during the pressing process smoother, reducing instantaneous impact, improving the operating feel, and enhancing the control accuracy of the operating component's action timing.

[0011] In one possible design, a second guide structure is provided between the first guide structure and the inner wall of the battery pack. The second guide structure is used to guide the wedge to move in the second direction when the locking member moves in the first direction toward the unlocked position.

[0012] Compared with existing technologies, the technical effects achieved by this solution are as follows: By setting a second guide structure between the first guide structure and the inner wall of the battery pack, the wedge block receives a more defined and stable guiding effect as the locking member moves towards the unlocking position in the first direction. This allows it to be reliably guided to move in the second direction and promptly retract from the pressing position on the locking member. This not only ensures a more controllable fit between the wedge block and the locking member, avoiding problems such as poor movement, misalignment, jamming, or incomplete retraction during the wedge block's retraction, but also makes the unlocking action of the locking member smoother, reduces unlocking resistance, and improves the overall coordination of the mechanism. Furthermore, the second guide structure optimizes the movement path and force state of the wedge block, making its retraction action during unlocking more stable, reducing local interference and abnormal wear, and improving the durability and consistency of the locking assembly during repeated use.

[0013] In one possible design, the secondary locking mechanism includes: a mounting slot defined by an internal mounting structure of the battery pack and corresponding to the side of the locking member; a secondary locking slot located on the side of the locking member; a plug-in block movably disposed within the mounting slot and movable between a drive position and a release position; in the drive position, the plug-in block extends into the secondary locking slot to provide additional locking constraint to the locking member; a third elastic member disposed within the mounting slot and connected to the plug-in block for driving the plug-in block toward the release position; and a secondary locking member disposed at an opening at the bottom of the mounting slot and capable of entering or exiting the mounting slot through the opening; wherein, when the plug-in block is pushed to the drive position, the secondary locking member enters the mounting slot through the opening and engages with the plug-in block to restrict the plug-in block from retracting toward the release position under the action of the third elastic member.

[0014] Compared with existing technologies, the technical effects achieved by this solution are as follows: By setting a secondary locking groove on the side of the locking member, and setting a movable plug-in block, a third elastic element, and a secondary locking member capable of limiting and locking the plug-in block in the corresponding mounting groove, the secondary locking mechanism can further form a clear and stable additional locking constraint on the locking member after the locking member completes the main locking. After the plug-in block extends into the secondary locking groove, it can directly limit the relative displacement of the locking member, thereby enhancing the locking member's holding ability under vibration, impact, or large external forces; the secondary locking member enters the mounting groove and engages with the plug-in block after the plug-in block reaches the driving position, which can further limit the plug-in block from retracting itself under the action of the third elastic element, thus making the additional locking state have better stability and resistance to accidental release.

[0015] In one possible design, the secondary locking mechanism also includes a drive assembly disposed within the mounting slot for driving the plug-in block to move toward the secondary locking slot so that the plug-in block enters the secondary locking slot.

[0016] Compared with existing technologies, the technical effects achieved by this solution are as follows: By incorporating a drive component within the secondary locking mechanism, and having this drive component actively drive the plug-in block towards the secondary locking slot, the plug-in block can enter the slot more accurately and promptly, thereby improving the initiative and controllability of the secondary locking mechanism's activation process. The clear driving force provided by the drive component ensures a more reliable connection between the plug-in block and the secondary locking slot, reducing problems such as incomplete insertion, delayed action, or incomplete locking. Furthermore, the drive component's placement within the mounting slot allows for a shorter drive path and a more direct transmission relationship, thus contributing to improved response efficiency and operational stability of the secondary locking mechanism.

[0017] In one possible design, the locking assembly also includes a condition detection and triggering component, which is electrically connected to the drive assembly and is used to control the drive assembly to move when a preset trigger condition is detected, so as to push the plug-in block into the secondary lock slot and enable the secondary lock mechanism.

[0018] Compared with existing technologies, the technical effects achieved by this solution are as follows: By setting up a working condition detection and triggering component, and controlling the drive component to operate when a preset triggering condition is detected, the activation of the secondary locking mechanism is no longer a fixed, single mechanical action, but can be triggered specifically according to the actual operating state of the power tool. This allows the plug block to enter the secondary locking slot in a timely manner when stronger locking constraints are required, and enables the secondary locking mechanism to form additional locking constraints, thereby improving the adaptability and responsiveness of the locking component to complex working conditions. The secondary locking mechanism can automatically activate under specific working conditions, which not only enhances locking stability under high load, strong vibration, or high impact risk conditions, reducing the possibility of loosening, displacement, or accidental unlocking of the locking components, but also helps to prevent the secondary locking mechanism from being in an active state for extended periods when unnecessary, thus balancing locking reliability and operational rationality.

[0019] In one possible design, the working condition detection and triggering component includes an electrical signal detection unit and a control unit. The electrical signal detection unit is used to detect the motor drive current during the operation of the power tool. The control unit is electrically connected to the electrical signal detection unit and the drive component, and is used to control the drive component to push the plug-in block into the secondary lock slot when the motor drive current reaches a preset current threshold, so as to activate the secondary lock mechanism.

[0020] Compared with existing technologies, the technical effects achieved by this solution are as follows: By setting up an electrical signal detection unit and a control unit, and using the motor drive current during the operation of the power tool as the triggering basis for the secondary lock mechanism, the activation of the secondary lock mechanism can correspond to the actual load and operating state of the power tool, thereby improving the targeting, timeliness, and control accuracy of the secondary lock activation. The motor drive current can reflect the working intensity and stress condition of the power tool to a certain extent. Therefore, when the motor drive current reaches a preset current threshold, the control unit controls the drive assembly to push the plug-in block into the secondary lock slot. This allows the secondary lock mechanism to function promptly under conditions requiring stronger locking constraints, improving the stability of the locking components under high load or strong vibration, and reducing the risk of loosening, displacement, or accidental unlocking of the locking components. The detection triggering mechanism avoids long-term indiscriminate activation of the secondary lock mechanism, making the secondary lock action more conditional and rational.

[0021] This application also provides a battery pack, which includes a housing and a locking component disposed within the housing. The locking component is used to engage with a locking groove on a power tool to achieve locking.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the technical effects achieved by adopting this technical solution are as follows: The battery pack of this application has all the beneficial effects of the locking component of any technical solution of this application, which will not be repeated here.

[0023] This application also provides a locking / unlocking method for a battery pack, applicable to a battery pack, the locking / unlocking method including: During the locking process, the locking member enters the locking groove of the power tool along the first direction under the action of the first elastic member to form the main lock, and the wedge moves toward the locking member along the second direction under the action of the second elastic member to form a lateral clamping on the locking member. Detect the operating condition of power tools and determine whether the conditions for activating the secondary lock mechanism are met; When the activation conditions of the secondary lock mechanism are met, the control drive component is activated to push the plug-in block into the secondary lock slot and cause the secondary lock to enter the mounting slot and engage with the plug-in block, thereby enabling the secondary lock mechanism to form an additional locking constraint on the locking member; During a single press to unlock, the release part of the operating component first drives the secondary lock component to disengage from the plug-in block, causing the plug-in block to retract and exit the secondary lock groove under the action of the third elastic component, thereby releasing the additional locking constraint. After the additional locking constraint is released, the driving part of the operating member then drives the locking member to exit the lock groove in the first direction; Furthermore, as the locking member exits the locking groove in the first direction, the wedge block moves in the second direction under the action of the cooperating guide to exit the pressing position on the locking member.

[0024] Compared with existing technologies, the technical effects achieved by this solution are as follows: By systematically designing the locking, enhanced locking, and unlocking processes of the battery pack, the main locking, lateral clamping, and secondary lock additional constraints work together to significantly improve the stability and reliability of the connection between the battery pack and the power tool. During the locking process, the locking component enters the lock groove to form the main lock, while the wedge component simultaneously applies lateral clamping to the locking component, effectively reducing the mating clearance, enhancing the positioning stability of the locking component, and reducing the probability of vibration, shaking, and abnormal noise. When the activation conditions of the secondary lock mechanism are met, the plug-in block enters the secondary lock groove and forms a snap-fit ​​through the secondary lock component, further improving the holding ability of the locking component under complex working conditions and enhancing the overall locking state's resistance to impact, vibration, and loosening. During the unlocking process, the release unit first releases the additional locking constraint formed by the secondary locking mechanism. Then, the drive unit moves the locking element out of the lock groove, and simultaneously causes the wedge block to exit its pressing position. This ensures a clear and reasonable sequence of actions, avoiding jamming, interference, or abnormal wear caused by forcibly unlocking before the additional locking is released. This not only improves the stability of the locking process and the smoothness of the unlocking process but also gives the entire locking and unlocking process better coordination, safety, and reliability for repeated use. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a locking component provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of region A in the middle; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a locking component provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 ; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of region B in the middle; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of a locking component provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 ; Figure 6 for Figure 5 Enlarged view of region C in the middle; Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure of a locking component provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 4 ; Figure 8 for Figure 7 Enlarged view of region D in the middle; Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of a locking component provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 5 ; Figure 10 for Figure 9Enlarged view of region E in the middle; Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the structure of a locking component provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6 ; Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the structure of a locking component provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 7 ; Figure 13 A schematic diagram of the structure of a locking component provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 8 ; Figure 14 A schematic diagram of the structure of a locking component provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 9 ; Figure 15 for Figure 14 Enlarged view of region F in the middle; Figure 16 A schematic diagram of the structure of a locking component provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 10 ; Figure 17 for Figure 16 Enlarged view of region G in the middle; Figure 18 A schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the condition detection and triggering component provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 19 This is a flowchart illustrating a battery pack locking / unlocking method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 10-Battery pack; 11-Locking component; 12-Operating component; 13-First guide structure; 14-First elastic component; 15-Wedge block; 16-Second elastic component; 17-Secondary lock mechanism; 18-Release part; 19-Drive part; 20-Upper operating part; 21-Fourth elastic component; 22-Second guide structure; 23-Mounting slot; 24-Secondary lock slot; 25-Plug-in block; 26-Third elastic component; 27-Secondary lock component; 28-Drive assembly; 29-Matching guide part. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] See Figures 1 to 19This application provides a locking assembly applied to a battery pack and used to engage with a locking slot on a power tool to achieve locking. The locking assembly includes: a locking member 11 and an operating member 12. The locking member 11 is disposed on a first guide structure 13 and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position along a first direction under the guidance of the first guide structure 13; the operating member 12 is convexly connected to the locking member 11 to drive the locking member 11 to move towards the unlocked position along the first direction; a first elastic member 14 is used to drive the locking member 11 to reset towards the locked position; and a wedge member. 15. A wedge block 15 is disposed on the side of the locking member 11 and is movable in a second direction, which intersects with the first direction; a second elastic member 16 is connected to the wedge block 15 and is used to drive the wedge block 15 toward the locking member 11 so that the wedge block 15 forms a lateral pressure on the locking member 11 when the locking member 11 is in the locked position; a secondary locking mechanism 17 is disposed at a lateral corresponding position of the locking member 11, and the secondary locking mechanism 17 cooperates with the locking member 11 in the activated state to form an additional locking constraint.

[0029] Specifically, in this embodiment, the first direction can be the movement direction of the locking member 11 entering or exiting the power tool lock slot, and the second direction can be the movement direction of the wedge member 15 moving laterally closer to or further away from the locking member 11. The first direction differs from the second direction to separate the main locking movement of the locking member 11 from the lateral pressing movement of the wedge member 15, thereby enabling the locking member 11 to insert and exit the power tool lock slot along the first direction, while the wedge member 15 laterally wedges the locking member 11 along the second direction. Through this arrangement, the main locking function of the locking member 11 and the gap-eliminating pressing function of the wedge member 15 can be realized separately and cooperate with each other, thus facilitating a balance between locking reliability and unlocking smoothness. Guided by the first guide structure 13, the locking member 11 reciprocates linearly along the first direction to ensure that the locking member 11 has a clear and stable movement trajectory when moving between the locking and unlocking positions, reducing swaying, tilting, and jamming. The first elastic element 14 is a compression spring arranged along the first direction, with one end abutting against the housing or fixed support and the other end abutting against the operating element 12, so as to continuously apply a restoring force to the locking element 11 in the locking position direction, so that the locking element 11 automatically maintains or returns to the locking position when there is no external driving force. Using a compression spring as the first elastic element 14 has a simple structure, a clear restoring force, is easy to assemble, and can maintain relatively stable restoring performance in multiple operations.

[0030] In one embodiment of this application, the operating member 12 includes a release part 18 for releasing the secondary locking mechanism 17 and a driving part 19 for driving the locking member 11 to move. The release part 18 cooperates with the secondary locking mechanism 17, and the driving part 19 cooperates with the locking member 11, so that during the unlocking process, the operating member 12 first releases the additional locking constraint of the secondary locking mechanism 17 on the locking member 11 through the release part 18, and then drives the locking member 11 to move towards the unlocking position along the first direction through the driving part 19; and the wedge block member A mating guide 29 is provided on the side of the locking member 11, so that when the locking member 11 moves toward the unlocking position in the first direction, the wedge block 15 moves along the second direction under the action of the mating guide 29 and exits the pressing position on the locking member 11; wherein, the wedge block 15 is disposed between the locking member 11 and the first guide structure 13, and the second elastic member 16 drives the wedge block 15 to move toward the gap between the locking member 11 and the first guide structure 13, so as to form a lateral wedge tightening on the locking member 11.

[0031] Specifically, in this embodiment, such as Figure 15 As shown, the wedge block 15 can be a wedge-shaped slider, a wedge-shaped push block, or a sliding component with a beveled mating structure. A first mating bevel can be provided on the side of the wedge block 15 facing the locking member 11, and a corresponding second mating bevel is provided on the locking member 11. The mating guide 29 can be provided on the side of the wedge block 15 facing the locking member 11, forming a guide protrusion, guide step, guide bevel, or guide flange that partially protrudes towards the locking member 11. With the above configuration, after the wedge block 15 is inserted into the gap between the locking member 11 and the first guide structure 13, the main wedge-tightening part of the wedge block 15 can achieve lateral wedge-tightening of the locking member 11, while the mating guide 29 does not significantly obstruct the locking member 11 in the locked state, thereby preventing the mating guide 29 from prematurely contacting the locking member 11 and affecting the insertion depth and clamping effect of the wedge block 15. When the locking member 11 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position along the first direction, it can first make an initial stroke. During this initial stroke, the locking member 11 gradually moves from the original locked position to the position where it contacts the mating guide 29. That is, when the wedge member 15 is in the laterally wedge-tightened state, the locking member 11 is not completely immobile, but can move a short pre-reserved stroke along the first direction under the drive of the operating member 12 until the abutting part, guide slope, or lowered side of the locking member 11 contacts the mating guide 29. Subsequently, the locking member 11 continues to move along the first direction, and through the abutting action with the mating guide 29, applies a pushing force along the second direction to the wedge member 15, thereby pushing the wedge member 15 to overcome the elastic force of the second elastic member 16 and gradually withdraw from the gap between the locking member 11 and the first guide structure 13. With this setting, it can be ensured that the locking member 11 has the necessary initial displacement space in the initial stage of unlocking, and the wedge member 15 is prevented from rigidly locking the locking member 11 in the wedge-tightened state.

[0032] The mating guide 29 is preferably configured as a protruding structure with a guide ramp, and the locking member 11 is correspondingly provided with a contact portion that mates with the guide ramp. When the locking member 11 moves down to a predetermined position, the contact portion contacts the guide ramp, and as the locking member 11 continues to move down, the displacement of the locking member 11 in the first direction is converted into the retraction displacement of the wedge block 15 in the second direction. Since the mating guide 29 does not directly engage with the locking member 11 in the initial stage, but only begins to participate in the guiding and pushing action after the locking member 11 moves to the predetermined trigger position, it can ensure that the wedge block 15 has sufficient wedging depth and clamping effect in the locked state, and can achieve reliable and smooth automatic withdrawal when unlocking. The predetermined gap or initial stroke can be designed according to the structural dimensions of the locking member 11 and the wedge block 15, the elastic force of the second elastic member 16, and the required unlocking feel. Preferably, the initial stroke is the minimum displacement that allows the locking member 11 to first escape the peak of the main locking force and reach the initial contact position with the mating guide 29. By reasonably setting this initial stroke, on the one hand, it can avoid the locking member 11 immediately pushing the wedge block 15 as soon as it moves, thereby reducing the problem of excessive initial unlocking resistance; on the other hand, it can also ensure that the locking member 11 pushes the wedge block 15 out of the pressing position in time after moving to the predetermined position, preventing the wedge block 15 from continuously forming a lateral clamp on the locking member 11 and affecting the smoothness of subsequent unlocking.

[0033] The locking member 11 may include a locking head and a transmission connection part that cooperates with the operating member 12. The locking head is used to extend into the locking groove on the power tool to form a main lock, and the transmission connection part is used to connect or cooperate with the driving part 19. The locking member 11 may be made entirely of metal or high-strength engineering plastic, or it may adopt a structure of metal insert and plastic body composite molding to balance structural strength, wear resistance and manufacturing cost. The wedge block 15 may be provided with a slope, guide slope, arc surface or stepped transition surface on the side near the locking member 11 to serve as the cooperating guide part 29, so that when the locking member 11 retracts in the first direction, the first direction movement of the locking member 11 is decomposed into a second direction pushing action on the wedge block 15, causing the wedge block 15 to automatically retract from the clamping position. The second elastic element 16 can be a compression spring. The compression spring is located on the side of the wedge block 15 opposite to the locking member 11. One end of the compression spring abuts against the housing or fixed support, and the other end abuts against the wedge block 15, continuously applying preload towards the locking member 11. Through this preload, the wedge block 15 can automatically abut against and wed the locking member 11 when it is in the locked position, thus enabling the wedging action to be completed automatically without additional drive, reducing structural complexity and improving operational reliability.

[0034] In one embodiment of this application, the operating member 12 further includes an upper operating part 20, and the upper operating part 20 and the driving part 19 are arranged sequentially along the pressing direction. A fourth elastic member 21 is provided between the upper operating part 20 and the driving part 19. The upper operating part 20 is connected to the release part 18 and can drive the release part 18 to move. The driving part 19 is connected to the locking member 11, so that when the upper operating part 20 is pressed, it first drives the secondary locking mechanism 17 to release the additional locking constraint on the locking member 11 through the release part 18, and after compressing the fourth elastic member 21, it drives the driving part 19 and the locking member 11 to move towards the unlocked position along the first direction.

[0035] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the operating element 12 can be a button or lever that the user can manually press, and it is located on the exposed part of the battery pack housing to allow the user to perform an unlocking operation. The operating element 12 and the locking element 11 are integrally formed to achieve a transmission connection. Preferably, the movement direction of the operating element 12 on the housing can be the same as the movement direction of the locking element 11, or the user's pressing direction can be converted to the first direction of movement of the locking element 11 through a transmission transition structure. The upper operating part 20 can be a pressing part that the user can directly contact, and the driving part 19 can be a pushing member located below or inside the upper operating part 20. The fourth elastic element 21 is disposed between the upper operating part 20 and the driving part 19 to form an elastic stroke difference between the two. Preferably, at the initial stage of user pressing, the upper operating unit 20 first overcomes the unlocking resistance of the secondary locking mechanism 17 and drives the release unit 18 to move, while the drive unit 19 remains stationary or substantially stationary before the fourth elastic member 21 is compressed; after the release unit 18 completes the release of the secondary locking mechanism 17, the upper operating unit 20 continues to press, the fourth elastic member 21 is further compressed and the force is transmitted to the drive unit 19, which then drives the locking member 11 to exit in the first direction. This allows the secondary lock to be released and the main lock to be unlocked in a predetermined sequence, avoiding interference and wear caused by forcibly dragging the locking member 11 before the secondary lock is released. Figure 11 As shown, the upper operating part 20 is movably inserted into the driving part 19, and the upper operating part 20 is connected to the secondary locking member 27 through the release part 18. The release part 18 can be a connecting rod or a connecting plate, mainly used to connect the upper operating part 20 and the secondary locking member 27, and to transmit the driving force of the upper operating part 20 to the secondary locking member 27, so as to release the constraint of the secondary locking mechanism 17 on the locking member 11.

[0036] Among them, such as Figure 17As shown, the release part 18 is used to first contact and push the secondary lock member 27 out of the latching position against the plug-in block 25 when the upper operating part 20 moves. The drive part 19 can be a hook part directly connected to the locking member 11, used to drive the locking member 11 to move towards the unlocked position in the first direction after the release action is completed; by setting the release part 18 and the drive part 19 respectively and forming a sequential action, the same operating member 12 can complete two different action functions, while improving the certainty and reliability of the unlocking action.

[0037] In one embodiment of this application, a second guide structure 22 is provided between the first guide structure 13 and the inner wall of the battery pack. The second guide structure 22 is used to guide the wedge block 15 to move in the second direction when the locking member 11 moves in the first direction toward the unlocked position.

[0038] Specifically, such as Figure 2 As shown, the second guide structure 22 can be a guide surface, limiting surface, guide groove, or guide rib disposed between the first guide structure 13 and the inner wall of the battery pack. In this embodiment, the second guide structure 22 is a guide groove. The second guide structure 22 can cooperate with the sliders on both sides of the wedge block 15 to limit the wedge block 15 from deviating from the predetermined movement trajectory. Preferably, the second guide structure 22 extends along the second direction of the wedge block 15, so that when the wedge block 15 moves outward under the unlocking action of the locking member 11, it can smoothly exit under the restriction and guidance of the second guide structure 22, avoiding the wedge block 15 from tilting, lifting, or partially jamming during the force application process.

[0039] In one embodiment of this application, the secondary locking mechanism 17 includes: a mounting groove 23, defined by a mounting structure inside the battery pack and corresponding to the side of the locking member 11; a secondary locking groove 24, disposed on the side of the locking member 11; and a plug block 25, movably disposed within the mounting groove 23 and movable between a drive position and a release position; in the drive position, the plug block 25 extends into the secondary locking groove 24 to form an additional locking constraint on the locking member 11; The third elastic element 26 is disposed in the mounting groove 23 and connected to the plug-in block 25, and is used to drive the plug-in block 25 to move toward the release position; the secondary locking element 27 is disposed at the opening at the bottom of the mounting groove 23 and can enter or exit the mounting groove 23 through the opening; wherein, when the plug-in block 25 is pushed to the drive position, the secondary locking element 27 enters the mounting groove 23 through the opening and engages with the plug-in block 25, so as to restrict the plug-in block 25 from retracting toward the release position under the action of the third elastic element 26.

[0040] Specifically, such as Figure 6 and Figure 8As shown, the mounting groove 23 can be a receiving cavity defined by the inner wall of the battery pack housing, an independent mounting bracket, or an internal frame structure. The mounting groove 23 can extend along the movement direction of the plug-in block 25 to provide the linear movement space required for the plug-in block 25 to enter the secondary locking groove 24. Preferably, the groove wall of the mounting groove 23 can be provided with a guide surface, a limiting shoulder, or an anti-detachment structure to enable the plug-in block 25 to slide stably back and forth within the mounting groove 23 and to prevent the plug-in block 25 from detaching during assembly or use. The secondary locking groove 24 can be formed on the side wall, side recess, or lateral locking interface of the locking member 11, with its opening direction opposite to the movement direction of the plug-in block 25, so that the plug-in block 25 can laterally limit the locking member 11 after entering. The plug-in block 25 can be a columnar, block-shaped, or sliding member with a partial locking portion; the front end of the plug-in block 25 can be provided with a plug-in portion, which is used to extend into the secondary locking groove 24 to form an additional locking constraint; the middle or tail of the plug-in block 25 can be provided with a locking portion that cooperates with the secondary locking member 27, such as a locking groove, a locking shoulder, a locking hole, a clearance groove, or a limiting step. Preferably, the plug-in block 25 moves along the length direction of the mounting groove 23, and its movement direction can intersect with the first direction, and more preferably it is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the first direction. In this way, when the plug-in block 25 enters the secondary locking groove 24, it can laterally restrict the unexpected displacement of the locking member 11 along the first direction, thereby achieving additional locking.

[0041] The third elastic element 26 is a compression spring or tension spring disposed within the mounting groove 23 and arranged along the retraction direction of the insertion block 25, used to continuously drive the insertion block 25 to move towards the release position. With this configuration, after the secondary locking element 27 disengages, the insertion block 25 can automatically exit the secondary locking groove 24 under the action of the third elastic element 26, thereby automatically releasing the secondary locking mechanism 17. This structure helps reduce the need for additional retraction drive mechanisms, making the secondary lock release action simpler and more reliable. The secondary locking element 27 can be a locking pin, a locking block, or a stop block; preferably, the secondary locking element 27 is disposed at the opening in the bottom wall of the mounting groove 23 and can move in the direction of entering and exiting the opening, so that after the insertion block 25 is pushed to the drive position, it enters the mounting groove 23 through the opening and engages with the engaging portion of the insertion block 25. After the secondary locking element 27 enters the engaging position, it can prevent the insertion block 25 from retracting under the action of the third elastic element 26, thereby maintaining the insertion state of the insertion block 25 into the secondary locking groove 24. This allows the plug-in block 25 to not only enter the secondary locking slot 24, but also to be further locked and retained after entering, which helps to improve the stability of the secondary locking mechanism 17 under vibration and shock environments.

[0042] When the plug-in block 25 moves to the drive position, the guide ramp or clearance structure on the plug-in block 25 can first push open the secondary locking member 27, allowing the secondary locking member 27 to exit the mounting groove 23 through the opening in the bottom wall of the mounting groove 23. After the plug-in block 25 moves to the drive position, the secondary locking member 27 rebounds under its own biasing force or restoring force and enters the locking position. When unlocking, the release part 18 on the operating member 12 can push the secondary locking member 27 out of the locking position, causing the secondary locking member 27 to disengage from the locking part of the plug-in block 25, and then the third elastic member 26 pushes the plug-in block 25 back. The locking and releasing of the secondary locking member 27 can be achieved through clear mechanical actions, with clear action logic and easy implementation.

[0043] In one embodiment of this application, the secondary lock mechanism 17 further includes a drive component 28 disposed in the mounting groove 23 for driving the plug-in block 25 to move toward the secondary lock groove 24 so that the plug-in block 25 enters the secondary lock groove 24.

[0044] Specifically, the drive assembly 28 can be an electric drive assembly or a micro-electromechanical actuator assembly; preferably, the drive assembly 28 can be a micro motor with a lead screw drive mechanism. From the perspective of structural simplicity, response speed, and ease of assembly, the drive assembly 28 preferably adopts a micro electromagnet or a push-pull electromagnetic actuator; from the perspective of displacement controllability and output stroke stability, the drive assembly 28 can also adopt a micro motor with a lead screw and nut pair to form a linear propulsion stroke.

[0045] When the drive assembly 28 is a miniature electromagnet or a push-pull electromagnetic actuator, it can be fixedly mounted on one side of the mounting slot 23, with its movable end or push rod end connected to or abutting against the plug-in block 25. After the drive assembly 28 is energized, its movable end moves along the direction of the plug-in block 25 into the secondary locking slot 24, directly pushing the plug-in block 25 from the release position to the drive position, and locking it via the secondary locking member 27. The plug-in block 25 can retract via the third elastic member 26 after the secondary locking member 27 is released. When the drive assembly 28 is a miniature motor with a lead screw transmission mechanism, the miniature motor can be fixedly mounted near the mounting slot 23. The motor output shaft drives the lead screw to rotate via a reduction gear set. A nut seat or slider seat connected to the plug-in block 25 is provided on the lead screw. As the lead screw rotates, the nut seat moves along the lead screw axis, thereby driving the plug-in block 25 to advance towards the secondary locking slot 24 or retract towards the release position.

[0046] In one embodiment of this application, the locking component further includes a working condition detection and triggering component, which is electrically connected to the drive component 28 and is used to control the drive component 28 to operate when a preset trigger working condition is detected, so as to push the plug-in block 25 into the secondary lock slot 24 and enable the secondary lock mechanism 17.

[0047] Specifically, in this application, the activation state of the secondary locking mechanism 17 refers to the state in which the plug-in block 25 is in the driving position and forms an additional locking constraint on the locking member 11; in a preferred embodiment, the secondary locking member 27 engages and holds the plug-in block 25. The operating condition detection and triggering component may include a sensor, an electrical signal detection module, a control circuit board, and a control unit electrically connected to the driving component 28; the operating condition detection and triggering component may be integrated into the battery management system, protection board control system, or independent control circuit of the battery pack, or it may be set inside the battery pack as an additional functional module. The control unit may be a single-chip microcomputer, microcontroller, logic control circuit, dedicated control chip, or comparison and judgment circuit, used to determine whether the activation conditions of the secondary locking mechanism 17 are met based on the detected operating signal, and output a drive control signal to the driving component 28 when the conditions are met. The preset triggering conditions may be the power tool under high load, starting impact, strong vibration, continuous high current, or other preset conditions that require enhanced locking; the control unit may determine whether the preset triggering conditions are reached based on a single parameter or a combination of multiple parameters. For example, the control unit can make judgments based on current value, duration, rate of change, or threshold range. Through the above settings, the activation of the secondary locking mechanism 17 can be matched with the actual operating conditions, so that the additional locking constraint can be established in a timely manner when needed, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption, wear, or control burden caused by the long-term unconditional activation of the secondary locking mechanism.

[0048] In one embodiment of this application, the working condition detection and triggering component includes an electrical signal detection unit and a control unit. The electrical signal detection unit is used to detect the motor drive current during the operation of the power tool. The control unit is electrically connected to the electrical signal detection unit and the drive component 28, and is used to control the drive component 28 to push the plug block 25 into the secondary lock slot 24 when the motor drive current reaches a preset current threshold, so as to activate the secondary lock mechanism 17.

[0049] Specifically, such as Figure 18As shown, the electrical signal detection unit can be a current sampling resistor, a Hall current sensor, a current detection chip, or other detection devices used to detect the current in the motor drive circuit. The electrical signal detection unit is connected to the current detection path at the battery pack's external output terminal, battery management board, or tool interface. It is used to detect the motor drive current during the power tool's operation after the battery pack is connected to the power tool and supplies power. Since the relevant drive current signal can only be obtained after the battery pack is plugged into the power tool and forms a power supply path, this detection method has clear implementation conditions and a solid working basis. The control unit can compare the detected current value with a preset current threshold. When the current value reaches or exceeds the threshold, it determines that the current operating condition requires enhanced locking and controls the drive assembly 28 to push the plug block 25 into the secondary lock slot 24. The preset current threshold can be a fixed threshold or can be set according to different battery pack models, different power tool types, or different operating modes. In addition to determining whether the instantaneous current reaches the threshold, the control unit can further combine the threshold duration, the number of repeated triggers, or current fluctuation characteristics to reduce the probability of false triggering. For example, the secondary lock mechanism 17 is only activated after the current continuously exceeds the set threshold for a predetermined time.

[0050] This application also provides a battery pack, which includes a housing and a locking component disposed within the housing. The locking component is used to engage with a locking groove on a power tool to achieve locking.

[0051] Specifically, such as Figure 18 As shown, the battery pack includes a housing, a cell assembly, an output terminal assembly, and the aforementioned locking assembly disposed within the housing. The locking assembly is preferably located near the side of the battery pack where it engages with the power tool, allowing the locking member 11 to extend out of or near the locking area of ​​the housing and engage with a locking groove on the power tool to form a lock. The drive assembly 28, the operating condition detection and triggering assembly, and the secondary locking mechanism 17 are preferably arranged near the locking member 11 to shorten the mechanical action chain and electrical connection path.

[0052] like Figure 19 As shown, this application also provides a locking and unlocking method for a battery pack, applied to a battery pack, including: S101: During the locking process, the locking member enters the locking groove of the power tool along the first direction under the action of the first elastic member to form the main lock, and the wedge block moves toward the locking member along the second direction under the action of the second elastic member to form a lateral clamping on the locking member. S102: Detect the operating condition of the power tool and determine whether the conditions for activating the secondary lock mechanism are met; S103: When the activation conditions of the secondary lock mechanism are met, the drive component is controlled to move to push the plug-in block into the secondary lock slot and make the secondary lock part enter the mounting slot and engage with the plug-in block, thereby making the secondary lock mechanism form an additional locking constraint on the locking part; S104: During a single press to unlock, the release part of the operating member first drives the secondary lock member to disengage from the plug-in block, causing the plug-in block to retract and exit the secondary lock groove under the action of the third elastic member, thereby releasing the additional locking constraint. S105: After the additional locking constraint is released, the driving part of the operating member drives the locking member to exit the lock groove in the first direction. S106: During the process of the locking member exiting the locking groove in the first direction, the wedge block moves in the second direction under the action of the cooperating guide 29 to exit the pressing position on the locking member.

[0053] Specifically, the locking and unlocking method of the battery pack can be achieved through the mechanical and electronic coordination of the aforementioned locking components. During the locking process, the locking member 11 automatically enters the power tool locking groove under the action of the first elastic member 14, and the wedge member 15 automatically moves closer to the locking member 11 under the action of the second elastic member 16 to form a lateral clamping; when the working condition detection and triggering component determines that the secondary lock activation condition is met, the drive component 28 pushes the plug-in block 25 into the secondary lock groove 24, and the secondary lock member 27 then engages and retains the plug-in block 25 to form an additional locking constraint. During the unlocking process, the user presses the operating component 12. The user's pressing force acts sequentially on the release part 18 and the drive part 19. The upper operating part 20 first releases the engagement of the secondary lock component 27 with the plug block 25 via the release part 18. The plug block 25 retracts and exits the secondary lock groove 24 under the action of the third elastic member 26. Subsequently, the drive part 19 drives the locking component 11 to exit the power tool lock groove. During the exiting process, the locking component 11 pushes the wedge component 15 to retract in the second direction through the guide part 29, thereby releasing the lateral clamping. Through the above process, a complete action chain of main locking, wedge tightening and gap elimination, secondary lock reinforcement, and sequential unlocking can be realized. To improve structural durability, the mating surfaces between the locking component 11, the plug block 25, the secondary lock component 27, and the wedge component 15 can be treated with wear-resistant materials, or made of metal materials, engineering plastic materials containing lubricating fillers, and low-friction coating materials. For mating surfaces with relative sliding, guide chamfers, lubrication grooves, or anti-friction layers can be added to reduce wear and jamming risks during repeated use, which helps improve the long-term stability of the locking assembly.

[0054] While this application discloses the above information, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of this application; therefore, the scope of protection of this application shall be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A locking assembly applied to a battery pack and used to engage with a locking slot on a power tool to achieve locking, characterized in that, include: The locking member (11) and the operating member (12) are provided. The locking member (11) is disposed on the first guide structure (13) and can move between the locked position and the unlocked position along a first direction under the guidance of the first guide structure (13). The operating member (12) is connected to the locking member (11) in a transmission manner to drive the locking member (11) to move towards the unlocked position along the first direction. The first elastic element (14) is used to drive the locking element (11) to reset towards the locking position; A wedge block (15) is disposed on the side of the locking member (11) and is movable in a second direction that intersects with the first direction; The second elastic element (16) is connected to the wedge block (15) and is used to drive the wedge block (15) toward the locking member (11) so that the wedge block (15) forms a lateral pressure on the locking member (11) when the locking member (11) is in the locked position; A secondary locking mechanism (17) is provided at a lateral corresponding position of the locking member (11). When in the activated state, the secondary locking mechanism (17) cooperates with the locking member (11) to form an additional locking constraint.

2. The locking assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operating member (12) includes a release part (18) for releasing the secondary locking mechanism (17) and a driving part (19) for driving the locking member (11) to move. The release part (18) cooperates with the secondary locking mechanism (17), and the driving part (19) cooperates with the locking member (11) so that the operating member (12) first releases the additional locking constraint of the secondary locking mechanism (17) on the locking member (11) through the release part (18) during the unlocking process, and then drives the locking member (11) to move along the first direction toward the unlocking position through the driving part (19). In addition, the wedge block (15) is provided with a cooperating guide part (29) on the side close to the locking member (11) so that when the locking member (11) moves along the first direction toward the unlocking position, the wedge block (15) moves along the second direction under the action of the cooperating guide part (29) and exits the pressing position on the locking member (11). The wedge (15) is disposed between the locking member (11) and the first guide structure (13), and the second elastic member (16) drives the wedge (15) to move toward the gap between the locking member (11) and the first guide structure (13) to form a lateral wedge tightening on the locking member (11).

3. The locking assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The operating component (12) further includes an upper operating part (20), the upper operating part (20) and the driving part (19) are arranged sequentially along the pressing direction, and a fourth elastic element (21) is provided between the upper operating part (20) and the driving part (19); wherein, the upper operating part (20) is connected to the release part (18) and can drive the release part (18) to move, and the driving part (19) is connected to the locking member (11) so that when the upper operating part (20) is pressed, it first drives the secondary locking mechanism (17) to release the additional locking constraint on the locking member (11) through the release part (18), and after compressing the fourth elastic element (21), it drives the driving part (19) and the locking member (11) to move towards the unlocking position along the first direction.

4. The locking assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, A second guide structure (22) is provided between the first guide structure (13) and the inner wall of the battery pack. The second guide structure (22) is used to guide the wedge block (15) to move in the second direction when the locking member (11) moves in the first direction toward the unlocked position.

5. The locking assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The secondary locking mechanism (17) includes: Mounting slot (23), which is defined by the mounting structure inside the battery pack and is provided corresponding to the side of the locking member (11); A secondary lock groove (24) is provided on the side of the locking member (11); A plug-in block (25) is movably disposed within the mounting groove (23) and is movable between a drive position and a release position; in the drive position, the plug-in block (25) extends into the secondary lock groove (24) to form an additional locking constraint on the locking member (11); The third elastic element (26) is disposed in the mounting groove (23) and connected to the plug block (25) for driving the plug block (25) to move toward the release position; A secondary locking element (27) is provided at the opening at the bottom of the mounting groove (23) and can enter or exit the mounting groove (23) through the opening. When the plug-in block (25) is pushed to the drive position, the secondary lock (27) enters the mounting groove (23) through the opening and engages with the plug-in block (25) to restrict the plug-in block (25) from retracting to the release position under the action of the third elastic member (26).

6. The locking assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The secondary lock mechanism (17) further includes a drive component (28), which is disposed in the mounting slot (23) and is used to drive the plug-in block (25) to move toward the secondary lock slot (24) so ​​that the plug-in block (25) enters the secondary lock slot (24).

7. The locking assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The locking assembly also includes a working condition detection and triggering assembly, which is electrically connected to the drive assembly (28) and is used to control the drive assembly (28) to move when a preset trigger working condition is detected, so as to push the plug block (25) into the secondary lock slot (24) and enable the secondary lock mechanism (17).

8. The locking assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The working condition detection and triggering component includes an electrical signal detection unit and a control unit. The electrical signal detection unit is used to detect the motor drive current during the operation of the power tool. The control unit is electrically connected to the electrical signal detection unit and the drive assembly (28) and is used to control the drive assembly (28) to push the plug block (25) into the secondary lock slot (24) when the motor drive current reaches a preset current threshold, so that the secondary lock mechanism (17) is activated.

9. A battery pack, characterized in that, The battery pack includes a housing and a locking assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 8 disposed within the housing, the locking assembly being used to engage with a locking groove on a power tool to achieve locking.

10. A method for locking and unlocking a battery pack, characterized in that, Applied to the battery pack of claim 9, comprising: During the locking process, the locking member enters the locking groove of the power tool along the first direction under the action of the first elastic member to form the main lock, and the wedge moves toward the locking member along the second direction under the action of the second elastic member to form a lateral clamping on the locking member. Detect the operating condition of power tools and determine whether the conditions for activating the secondary lock mechanism are met; When the activation conditions of the secondary locking mechanism are met, the drive component is controlled to move to push the plug-in block into the secondary locking slot and to make the secondary locking member enter the mounting slot and engage with the plug-in block, thereby making the secondary locking mechanism form an additional locking constraint on the locking member; During a single press to unlock, the release part of the operating component first drives the secondary lock component to disengage from the plug-in block, causing the plug-in block to retract and exit the secondary lock groove under the action of the third elastic component, thereby releasing the additional locking constraint. After the additional locking constraint is released, the driving part of the operating member then drives the locking member to exit the locking groove along the first direction; Furthermore, during the process of the locking member exiting the locking groove in the first direction, the wedge block moves in the second direction under the action of the cooperating guide to exit the pressing position on the locking member.

Images