Electrical plug and battery pack

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of application connection of lithium ion batteries, in particular to an electric plug and a battery pack. The electric plug comprises an insulating base, the front end of the insulating plug shell is provided with a plug for plugging, the rear end of the insulating plug shell is provided with a handheld part, the insulating base is provided with at least three independent insulating jacks, two of the insulating jacks facing each other are used as power supply insulating jacks for the positive electrode and the negative electrode of a power supply, and the insulating jacks are used as power supply insulating jacks for the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the power supply. The other insulating jacks are used as voltage acquisition insulating jacks, and the positions of the insulating jacks and the two source insulating jacks are staggered; a plurality of insulating jacks are formed in the insulating base, a conductor female plug is fixed in each insulating jack, the front end of each conductor female plug is a conductor insertion tube for insertion of a conductor male plug at the opposite end, a wire is fixed at the rear end of each conductor female plug, and each wire extends out of the rear end of the insulating base.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of lithium-ion battery application connection, and in particular to an electrical plug and battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] As lithium-ion battery devices become increasingly widely used, and more and more devices utilize lithium-ion batteries, the requirements for the connection devices between lithium-ion batteries and devices, and between batteries and chargers, are gradually increasing, demanding greater flexibility. Furthermore, with intensifying market competition, users are placing higher demands on the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] One of the objectives of this utility model embodiment is to provide an electrical plug and battery pack, which offers accurate insertion and positioning, effortless and smooth insertion and removal, and high stability. Furthermore, its compact structure facilitates plug miniaturization.

[0004] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides an electrical plug, comprising:

[0005] The insulating base has a connector at the front end of the insulating housing for insertion and a grip at the rear end.

[0006] The insulating base is provided with at least three independent insulating sockets, of which two opposite insulating sockets serve as power supply insulating sockets for the positive and negative terminals of the power supply, and the other insulating sockets serve as voltage acquisition insulating sockets, and their positions are offset from the two source insulating sockets.

[0007] Each of the insulating sockets is fixed with a female conductor plug. The front end of each female conductor plug is a conductor tube for inserting a male conductor plug at the opposite end. The rear end of each female conductor plug is fixed with a wire, and each wire extends from the rear end of the insulating base.

[0008] Optionally, all of the voltage acquisition insulating jacks are located in the area between the two power supply insulating jacks.

[0009] Optionally, the outer contour of the cross-section of the connector perpendicular to the axial direction is consistent with the distribution shape of the insulating socket.

[0010] Optionally, on the connector, the offset position between any two offset insulating sockets is a recess, groove, or hole.

[0011] Optionally, the grip portion is further provided with a plurality of rear weight-reducing holes with openings located in the insulating base.

[0012] Optionally, each of the aforementioned conductor cannulas is further provided with a metal component, the front end and rear end of each metal component being located on the same inner wall of the conductor cannulas, and the middle section of each metal component having at least one bent portion that bends toward the other side of the conductor cannulas.

[0013] When an external conductor plug is inserted into the conductor cannula, the conductor plug is tightly inserted between the bent end of at least one of the bent portions of the metal part and the inner wall of the conductor cannula, and the metal part undergoes elastic deformation.

[0014] Optionally, a protrusion is provided on the inner wall of the front end of each of the said conductor cannulas, and the front end of the metal part abuts against the protrusion.

[0015] Optionally, each of the insulating sockets has a first lateral window on its wall, connecting the insulating socket to the outside, and each first lateral window is located on the connector.

[0016] On the side of each of the aforementioned conductor cannulas, a second lateral window is also provided, connecting the conductor cannulas containing it to the first lateral window. Each second lateral window is opposite to each of the first lateral windows.

[0017] Each of the metal parts is further connected to or extends a rearwardly extending limiting segment at its front end. The rear end of the limiting segment extends out of the second lateral window of the conductor tube in which it is located and is located inside the first lateral window.

[0018] Optionally, the front ends of each of the metal parts and the limiting segment are jointly fixed to the protrusion on the same side as the first lateral window, and the rear ends of each of the metal parts are free ends.

[0019] When the external conductor insert is inserted into the conductor cannula, it abuts against at least one of the bending portions, the metal part elastically deforms, the rear end of the metal part moves backward, and the distance between the bending portion and the second lateral window portion decreases.

[0020] Secondly, the battery pack provided in this embodiment of the present invention includes,

[0021] Battery pack body,

[0022] In any of the above-described electrical plugs, two wires extending from the rear ends of the two power insulated plugs are respectively electrically connected to the two electrodes of the battery pack body, and each of the wires extending from the rear ends of the other insulated plugs is respectively electrically connected to the positive electrode of each battery cell in the battery pack body.

[0023] As can be seen from the above, in addition to the two opposing positive and negative power terminals "+" and "-", the plug in this embodiment also includes "link" connectors that are offset from the positive and negative power terminals. The plug is used in the battery pack and can be reused as the battery pack's discharge plug and charging plug, without the need to set separate discharge plugs and charging plugs on the battery pack, which helps to save plug space in the battery pack.

[0024] During discharge, this plug also provides external voltage readings of the battery pack's internal components for discharge control, improving discharge safety. During charging, it connects to an external power source, which then performs equalization charging on each battery cell.

[0025] In summary, the plug in this embodiment has wider applicability, which helps save space occupied by the battery pack connectors. Furthermore, its application is more conducive to safe charging and discharging. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are provided to further illustrate the present invention and form part of this application, do not constitute an undue limitation of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the electrical plug provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0028] Figure 2 A top view of the electrical plug provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0029] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the AA cross-sectional structure of the electrical plug provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0030] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the BB cross-sectional structure of the electrical plug provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0031] Figure 5 A bottom view of the electrical plug provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0032] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the CC cross-sectional structure of the electrical plug provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0033] Figure 7 An exploded view of the electrical plug provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0034] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the conductor female insert provided in an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0035] 1: Insulating base; 11: Connector; 12: Hand grip; 13: First side window;

[0036] 21: Power supply insulation socket; 22: Voltage acquisition insulation socket;

[0037] 3: Conductor female connector; 31: Conductor tube; 32: Second lateral window; 33: Protrusion;

[0038] 4: Wire;

[0039] 5: Weight reduction hole section;

[0040] 6: Metal parts; 61: Bending section;

[0041] 7: Limiting segment. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Here, the illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the present invention are used to explain the present invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention. Example

[0043] See Figures 1-8 .

[0044] This embodiment provides an electrical plug, specifically a male plug. It mainly includes an insulating base 1 (denoted as insulating base 1) serving as the male plug. The connector 11 of the insulating base 1 is an insulating male plug for connection with a female plug. The insulating base 1 includes a connector 11 located at the front end for connection with other plugs, and a grip portion 12 located at the rear end for hand gripping. At least three insulating sockets extending through the insulating base 1 are provided inside, with each insulating socket forming a socket on the front and rear faces of the insulating base 1.

[0045] The two opposite insulating sockets are the positive and negative terminals of the power supply, and are referred to as power supply insulating sockets 21. The conductor female plug 3 fixed therein is electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery pack. The other insulating sockets are voltage acquisition insulating sockets 22. The conductor female plug 3 fixed therein is electrically connected to the voltage node of each battery cell in the battery pack to acquire the voltage of each battery cell in the battery pack.

[0046] In this embodiment, the positions of each voltage acquisition insulating socket 22 are offset from the positions of the two power supply insulating sockets 21, and neither is on the straight line where the two power supply insulating sockets 21 are located.

[0047] Each insulating socket contains and is fixed with a female conductor plug 3. The front end of each female conductor plug 3 is a conductor tube 31 for inserting a male conductor plug at the opposite end. The rear end is fixed with a wire 4. Each wire 4 extends from the rear end of the insulating base 1 for electrical connection with an external circuit (such as, but not limited to, a power source).

[0048] For the convenience of description, the conductor male plugs 3 in the two power supply insulating jacks 21 are respectively denoted as "+", "-", and the conductor male plugs 3 in each voltage acquisition insulating jack 22 are denoted as "link".

[0049] When the electric plug of this embodiment is applied to a lithium-ion battery pack, the wires 4 extending from the two power supply insulating jacks 21 are electrically connected to the positive pole "+", and negative pole "-" of the lithium-ion battery pack; the wires 4 in each voltage acquisition insulating jack 22 are electrically connected to the positive poles of the individual battery cells in the battery pack to collect the voltages of the individual battery cells in the battery pack.

[0050] Taking a battery pack composed of two battery cells connected in series in this embodiment as an example, the positive and negative poles of the battery pack are electrically connected to "+", "-" on the electric plug respectively, and the series connection node between the two battery cells is electrically connected to the "link" in the middle. As shown in the figure, the insulating jacks of the electric plug are arranged in a "pin" shape, with the power supply "+", "-" poles on both sides and the voltage acquisition pole "link" in the middle.

[0051] By analogy, when the battery pack body is composed of n battery cells connected in series, the two opposite "+", "-" insulating jacks of the electric plug of this embodiment are electrically connected to the total positive "+", and total negative "-" of the battery pack; (n - 1) "link" insulating jacks are respectively electrically connected to the respective voltage series connections to collect and obtain the voltages of the individual battery cells. Each "link" insulating jack can be, but is not limited to, symmetrically arranged on both sides of the straight line formed by the "+", "-" insulating jacks.

[0052] It should be noted that the battery cell described in this embodiment is a concept relative to the formed battery pack, which can be a battery core, or can be, but is not limited to, a battery pack.

[0053] As can be seen from the above, in addition to the "+", "-" at the two opposite power supply positive and negative positions, the electric plug of this embodiment also includes each "link" socket that is offset from the power supply positive and negative poles. When the electric plug is applied to a battery pack, it can be reused as a discharge plug and a charging plug for the battery pack, without separately setting a discharge plug and a charging plug on the battery pack, which is beneficial to saving the plug space of the battery pack.

[0054] During discharge, this electric plug also provides the voltage acquisition values inside the battery pack to perform discharge control based on the voltage acquisition values, improving the safety of discharge. During charging, it is electrically connected to an external charging power supply, and the external power supply performs balanced charging on each battery cell.

[0055] In summary, the electric plug of this embodiment has a wider universality, which is beneficial to saving the joint occupation space of the battery pack. And its application is more conducive to realizing safe charging and discharging.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the voltage acquisition insulation holes on the plug are staggered from the power supply "+" and "-" poles. This facilitates compactness between the insulation holes, enabling miniaturization of the plug. Moreover, the plug structure of this embodiment can be matched with existing power plugs for power equipment that only have two male connectors with "+" and "-" poles, providing power according to existing technology. It can also be matched with female connectors that are fully compatible with this embodiment, controlling discharge based on the voltage acquisition value to provide power to the equipment. This embodiment of the plug offers greater versatility and adaptability, widely meeting various application needs.

[0057] As an illustration of this embodiment, the wall thickness of each insulating socket at the connector 11 end can be designed to meet electrical insulation requirements without redundancy, with each socket wall having the same or similar thickness. This makes adjacent socket walls on the connector 11 side integrated, and the outer contour of the connector 11's cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction matches or approximates the distribution shape of each insulating socket. This approach helps save materials. Furthermore, the protruding or recessed ridges and / or grooves formed by the staggered arrangement of the insulating sockets on the outer periphery can be used as guides for insertion, facilitating insertion, saving time and effort, and preventing short circuits caused by misalignment.

[0058] As an illustration of this embodiment, on the grip portion 12 side of the insulating base 1, in addition to the hole wall of the insulating socket meeting the electrical insulation requirements, a plurality of weight-reducing holes are also provided on the grip portion 12 side. This design saves materials on the one hand, and makes the plug lighter on the other.

[0059] This embodiment also provides a structure for a conductor female plug 3. The conductor tube 31 at the front end of each conductor female plug 3 can be, but is not limited to, formed by bending a metal sheet located at the front end. The two opposite edges of the bent metal piece 6 do not touch and leave a certain gap. The length direction of the gap is parallel to the axial direction of the conductor tube 31, and the width of the gap is the same at all points. When the conductor male plug on the opposite end of the female plug is inserted into the conductor tube 31 at the front end of the plug in this embodiment, the conductor tube 31 expands slightly elastically, the gap on the conductor tube 31 increases, and the conductor tube 31 is tightly confined between the outer wall of the inserted conductor male plug and the inner wall of the insulating socket where the conductor female plug 3 is located.

[0060] A metal component 6 is further installed inside each conductor cannula 31, such as, but not limited to, a metal strip or sheet with elastic deformation. The front end and rear end of the metal component 6 are located on the same side of the inner wall of the conductor cannula 31, and at least one part of the middle of the metal component 6 is bent toward the other side of the conductor cannula 31 to form at least one bent portion 61. The front end (or rear end) of the metal component 6 is fixed to the inner wall of the conductor cannula 31, the middle part of the metal component 6 and the bent portion 61 in the middle are free ends, suspended in the middle of the conductor cannula 31, and the rear end (or front end) of the metal component 6 is a free end, extending to the rear end (or front end) of the conductor cannula 31. When the male conductor is inserted into the conductor tube 31 of the female conductor 3 in this embodiment, the male conductor is pressed tightly against at least one bent portion 61 in the middle of the metal part 6 inside the conductor tube 31. Under pressure, the metal part 6 deforms elastically, and the male conductor is pressed between the bent portion 61 and the inner wall of the conductor tube 31, so as to have good electrical contact, enhance conductivity, and not be easy to loosen, thereby improving the reliability of electrical connection.

[0061] As an illustration of this embodiment, a protrusion 33 is provided on the inner wall of the front end of each conductor insertion tube 31. After the front end of the metal part 6 abuts against the protrusion 33, the front end of the metal part 6 is further positioned to ensure the squeezing elastic force of the metal part 6 on the inserted conductor male plug.

[0062] As an illustration of this embodiment, lateral windows (referred to as first lateral windows 13) communicating with the outside can also be opened on the sides of each insulating socket of the insulating base 1; simultaneously, lateral windows (referred to as second lateral windows 32) communicating with the outside can be opened on the sides of the conductor tubes 31 at the front end of each conductor female plug 3. When each conductor female plug 3 is fixed in each insulating socket of the insulating base 1, the second lateral windows 32 on each conductor female plug 3 are directly opposite the first lateral windows 13 on the insulating socket where they are located, forming lateral windows communicating with the outside for each conductor tube 31.

[0063] Furthermore, the end segments of the front ends of the metal parts 6 located in the conductor insertion tubes 31 at the front ends of each conductor female plug 3 are connected to or bent and extended by limiting segments 7. The front ends of the limiting segments 7 are connected to or integral with the front ends of the metal parts 6, forming an acute angle α. The rear end of the limiting segments 7 extends from the second side toward the window portion 32 and is located inside the first side window portion 13. Specifically, each bent portion 61 of the middle section of the metal part 6 is bent away from the first side window portion 13 and the second side window portion 32. The bent portions 61 are at a certain distance from the hole wall to allow the insertion of the conductor male plug. When the male conductor is inserted, it abuts against at least one bent portion 61 of the metal part 6. The metal part 6 elastically deforms, and its rear end moves backward. The distance between the bent portion 61 and the second lateral window 32 decreases. Under the elastic force of the metal part 6, the inserted male conductor is tightly inserted into the socket of the female conductor 3, maintaining good conductor contact and preventing it from easily slipping out. The inner wall of the chamber of the female conductor inserted at the opposite end presses tightly against the first lateral window 13. The end of the limiting segment 7 located in the first lateral window 13 abuts against the inner wall of the chamber of the female conductor inserted at the opposite end, forming an abutting and engaging relationship to prevent the connection from loosening.

[0064] Preferably, the free end of the rear end of the metal part 6 is pressed tightly against the hole wall of the conductor tube 31 on the same side as the second lateral window 32. Under the resistance of the hole wall, it cannot move radially outward and can only move along the hole wall. Under the squeezing action of the inserted male conductor, the middle bent part 61 of the metal part 6 elastically deforms. Its free end can only move backward under the limitation of the hole wall and is prohibited from moving in other directions. Under the action of pressure, the middle bent part 61 of the metal part 6 shifts towards the second lateral window 32. The deformation of the metal part 6 has an elastic force that restores the deformation trend. The inserted male conductor is tightly confined in the conductor tube 31 and is tightly pressed against by the elastic deformation, making it difficult to detach, thus ensuring the reliability of the electrical connection between the male conductor and the female conductor 3.

[0065] In this embodiment, the front end of each conductor female plug 3 of the plug does not extend beyond the front socket, and the rear end is completely in front of the rear socket and does not protrude. The plug has good moisture and dust resistance, and helps to prevent users from accidentally contacting conductive parts, thus improving electrical safety.

[0066] As an illustration of this embodiment, each conductor female plug 3 of the electrical plug in this embodiment has a clamping portion formed at its rear end. Each clamping portion may be formed by bending a sheet of metal at the end. Each clamping portion tightly clamps the exposed core of the exposed conductor 4 at the front end of the conductor 4. Each conductor 4 extends from the rear end of the insulating base 1 to be electrically connected to the positive and negative poles of an external power source or electrical equipment.

[0067] As an illustration of this embodiment, the first lateral windows 13 on the connector 11 can also be used as snap-fit ​​positions to snap-fit ​​with the protrusions on the inner wall of the insulating chamber of the female plug that is compatible with the plug of this embodiment. When the protrusions on the inner wall of the female plug pass through the first lateral windows 13 of the plug of this embodiment, the plug is connected. The protrusions on the inner wall of the female plug are located at the rear end of the limiting section 7 in the first lateral window 13. Without external force, the end of the limiting section 7 abuts against the protrusions on the inner wall of the female plug, so that the female plug that is connected to the connector 11 is not easily dislodged without external force.

[0068] The embodiments described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this technical solution. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the above embodiments should be included within the scope of protection of this technical solution.

Claims

1. An electrical plug, comprising: an insulating base, a plug being provided at a front end of the insulating base for plugging, and a handgrip being provided at a rear end of the insulating base, at least three independent insulating sockets being provided on the insulating base, two of the insulating sockets being provided as power supply insulating sockets for positive and negative poles of a power supply, and the other insulating sockets being provided as voltage collection insulating sockets, the voltage collection insulating sockets being arranged in positions staggered with respect to the power supply insulating sockets, a conductor female plug being fixed in each of the insulating sockets, a conductor plug tube being provided at a front end of each of the conductor female plugs for insertion of a conductor male plug from an opposite end, a wire being fixed at a rear end of each of the conductor female plugs, and the wire extending out of the rear end of the insulating base.

2. The electrical plug according to claim 1, wherein all of the voltage collection insulating sockets are arranged in a region between the two power supply insulating sockets.

3. The electrical plug according to claim 1, wherein an outer contour of a cross section of the plug perpendicular to an axial direction is consistent with a distribution shape of the insulating sockets.

4. The electrical plug according to claim 3, wherein a recess, a groove or a hole is provided at a staggered position between any two of the insulating sockets.

5. The electrical plug according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of rear end weight-reducing holes are provided in the handgrip and open to the insulating base.

6. The electrical plug according to claim 1, wherein a metal piece is further provided in each of the conductor plug tubes, a front end and a rear end of each of the metal pieces are located in the same side inner wall of the conductor plug tube, a middle section of each of the metal pieces is provided with at least one bent portion bent towards the other side of the conductor plug tube, when the conductor male plug is inserted into the conductor plug tube, the conductor male plug is tightly inserted between the bent end of the at least one bent portion of the metal piece and the inner wall of the conductor plug tube, and the metal piece is elastically deformed.

7. The electrical plug according to claim 6, wherein a protrusion is provided on the inner wall of the front end of each of the conductor plug tubes, and the front end of each of the metal pieces abuts against the protrusion.

8. The plug according to claim 7, wherein a first lateral window part is provided on the hole wall of each of the insulating sockets and communicates the insulating socket with the outside, the first lateral window part is provided on the plug, a second lateral window part is further provided on the lateral side of each of the conductor plug tubes and communicates the conductor plug tube with the first lateral window part, the second lateral window part is opposite to the first lateral window part, a limiting section extending rearward is further connected to or extended from the front end of each of the metal pieces, a rear end of the limiting section extends out of the second lateral window part of the conductor plug tube and is located in the first lateral window part.

9. The plug according to claim 8, wherein the front ends of the metal pieces and the limiting sections are collectively fixed behind the protrusion and are located on the same side of the first lateral window part, and the rear end of each of the metal pieces is a free end. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ When the external conductor plug is inserted into the conductor insertion tube, the metal piece elastically deforms against at least one of the bent portions, the rear end of the metal piece moves backward, and the distance between the bent portion and the second lateral window portion is reduced.

10. A battery pack characterized by, Comprising, a battery pack body, The electric plug of any one of claims 1 to 9, two wires respectively extending from the rear ends of the two power supply insulation insertion tubes of the electric plug are electrically connected to two electrodes of the battery pack body, and each of the wires extending from the rear end of the other insulation insertion hole of the electric plug is electrically connected to the positive electrode of each battery cell in the battery pack body.

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