Battery charging case

Abstract

Battery charging case with at least one battery connection device (12) for electrically and mechanically detachable connection of at least one battery (38), wherein the battery (38) is designed to supply a hand tool with energy, and the battery connection device (12) is provided for exchanging electrical energy directly or indirectly with the at least one battery (38) in at least one operating state, a case body (14) and an electrical energy output (16) which is provided for supplying electrical energy from the case body (14) and forwarding it to a third device, characterized by a supply unit (18) which is connected to the electrical energy output (16) and the battery connection device (12) for supplying the electrical energy output (16) with energy from the battery (38) attachable to the battery connection device (12) in at least one operating state, a battery charging device (26, 28,30) for charging the battery (38) which can be attached to the battery connection device (12), and a power input (34, 68, 70) which is connected to the power supply unit (18) and is designed to transfer energy from an external power source to the battery charging case, wherein the power supply unit (18) supplies the electrical power output (16) either from the battery (38) or by means of the power input (34, 68, 70) of the case body (14), and wherein the case body (14) has a base body (44) and a case lid (46) which, when the case lid (46) is closed, define a receiving area (48) of the case body (14) for the battery connection device (12), for the at least one battery (38), for the battery charging device (26, 28, 30) and for at least one hand tool.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to a battery charging case according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A battery charging case, in particular a battery hand tool case, with at least one battery connection device and a case body, has already been proposed.

[0003] The German patent application GB 2 407 718 A describes, as the closest prior art, a container for tools for charging power tool batteries. However, a power supply unit with an electrical power output and a battery connection device for supplying the electrical power output with energy from a battery attachable to the battery connection device is not disclosed. Furthermore, GB 2 407 718 A fails to demonstrate that energy is transferred from an external power source to the battery charging case, with the power supply unit supplying the electrical power output either from the battery or via a power input in the case body.

[0004] US patent 2008 / 0035507 shows a charging case for power tool batteries, which can be charged in it and in which the power tools themselves can also be stored. The provision of energy from the batteries inside the case to an external power source is not disclosed. Disclosure of the invention

[0005] The invention relates to a battery charging case, in particular a battery hand tool case, with at least one battery connection device and a case body.

[0006] It is proposed that the battery charging case have an electrical power output and a power supply unit connected to the power output and the battery connection device for supplying the power output in at least one operating state. A "battery connection device" is understood to be, in particular, a device designed to exchange electrical energy directly or indirectly with at least one battery in at least one operating state. Advantageously, the battery connection device is designed to accommodate at least one battery and / or, preferably, at least one battery charging device, and / or to form at least part of a battery charging device. Preferably, the battery connection device is, in at least one operating state, at least partially mechanically fixed and / or mechanically detachable to at least one battery and / or battery charging device.The term "case body" refers specifically to a part of the battery charging case that defines a receiving area, at least for the battery connection device of the battery charging case and, in particular, for a hand tool, when closed. A "power supply unit" refers specifically to a unit that, in at least one operating state, establishes at least one electrically conductive connection between the power output and the battery connection device. Advantageously, the power supply unit includes at least one cable. An "electrical power output" refers specifically to a device designed to supply electrical energy, which here also includes the energy of a magnetic field, from the case body. Preferably, the electrical power output is designed to supply energy to a third device.Advantageously, the electrical energy is provided as a direct or alternating voltage. "Connected" should be understood to mean, in particular, electrically and / or mechanically coupled. "Provided for" should be understood to mean, in particular, specially equipped, designed, and / or programmed.

[0007] The inventive design of the battery charging case allows the battery charging case to be advantageously used as a portable electrical energy source and, in particular, to supply energy to other devices independently of the mains.

[0008] Furthermore, the invention relates to a battery charging case, in particular a battery hand tool case, with at least one battery connection device and a case body.

[0009] It is proposed that the battery connection device comprise at least one coupling element designed to connect at least one battery charging device of the battery connection device to the case body in a mechanically and electrically detachable manner. Advantageously, the coupling element transmits energy in at least one operating state, in particular between the battery charging device and the case body. Preferably, the coupling element connects the battery charging device and the case body in a way that allows for tool-free detachment. The coupling element advantageously includes a locking device, for example, a locking hook permanently connected to the battery charging device and / or a locking strip connected to the case body. A "battery charging device" is understood to mean, in particular, a unit designed to be detachably connected to a battery, at least for charging the battery.Advantageously, the battery charging device is also designed to discharge a battery connected to it. Preferably, a power supply unit connects the battery charging device of the battery connection device to a power output of the case body. Advantageously, the battery charging device includes at least one means for monitoring a battery.

[0010] This further embodiment according to the invention enables a flexibly configurable energy exchange. In particular, a battery charging device that can be used independently of the battery charging case can be provided in a structurally simple manner.

[0011] Furthermore, the invention relates to a battery charging case, in particular a battery hand tool case, with a case body.

[0012] It is proposed that the case body have a suspension device with an energy input and / or an energy output. Preferably, the suspension device is designed as a recess, a hook, another suspension device that would be suitable to a person skilled in the art, and / or advantageously as a handle. An "energy input" is understood to mean, in particular, a device designed to transfer energy, preferably electrical and / or magnetic energy, from a third device to the battery charging case.

[0013] This inventive design of the battery charging case allows the battery charging case to be connected to an energy source or energy storage device for charging a battery in a particularly convenient way.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the battery charging case has a battery connection device, which allows the battery charging case to exchange energy with a battery, in particular by means of a battery charging device, in a particularly flexible and structurally simple manner.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention relates to a battery charging case, in particular a battery-powered hand tool case, comprising at least one battery connection device and a case body. It is proposed that the case body includes at least one BUS system designed to connect multiple units, at least electrically. A "BUS system" is understood to be, in particular, a connection network with multiple bus nodes, wherein at least two bus nodes are connected in series and serve to transmit energy and / or, preferably, data. In particular, the BUS system is designed to connect at least two bus nodes in parallel by means of an unbranched bus line unit. A "bus node" is understood to be, in particular, a section of the BUS system designed to be electrically connected to one of the units.Advantageously, each bus node has at least two electrical nodes, each designed to be electrically connected to the unit. Particularly advantageously, the two nodes have different electrical potentials in at least one operating state. Advantageously, the bus system is designed to connect at least one battery, at least one electrical consumer, at least one power supply unit, at least one battery connection device, and / or, in particular, at least one battery charging device. The bus system is particularly advantageous to connect multiple battery charging devices. Preferably, the bus system is designed to transmit electrical energy, measured value information, and / or data. Advantageously, the bus system is mechanically fixed to at least one part of the case body.

[0016] The BUS system allows units connected to the battery connection device to be easily supplied with energy and / or data in a structurally simple manner.

[0017] Furthermore, it is proposed that the battery charging case include a battery charging device designed to charge a battery separately from the case body. "Separate from the case body" is understood to mean, in particular, that the battery charging device is designed to be removed from the battery charging case for charging a battery, thus advantageously allowing the battery charging device to be used and / or sold with particular flexibility even without the battery charging case.

[0018] Furthermore, it is proposed that the battery charging case include at least one battery charging device comprising at least one coupling device designed to charge a battery without electrical contact. Preferably, the coupling device is also designed to discharge a battery connected to the battery charging device without electrical contact. "Without electrical contact" is understood to mean, in particular, without physical contact, i.e., without an electrically conductive material connection. Advantageously, the device transmits electrical energy, and advantageously also data, by means of a capacitive, electromagnetic, and / or advantageously an inductive connection. The coupling device allows the battery charging device to be connected to the battery in a way that is advantageously resistant to dirt and short-circuit protected.

[0019] Furthermore, it is proposed that the battery charging case incorporate electronics designed to provide an adjustable output voltage. Advantageously, the electronics allow the user to set an output voltage value, an output voltage frequency, and / or an output current value, advantageously including a maximum output current. It is particularly advantageous that the output voltage value, the output voltage frequency, and / or the output current value can be adjusted by the operator. This electronic configuration allows the battery charging case to be used advantageously as a flexible, mobile, and, in particular, mains-independent power source, thus potentially replacing an additional power source.

[0020] Furthermore, it is proposed that the battery charging case include electronics designed to provide at least one alternating current (AC) voltage. Preferably, the electronics provide an AC voltage that complies with standard IEC 60038:1983, has a voltage of 110 V at 60 Hz, and / or corresponds to another mains voltage that would be considered appropriate by a person skilled in the art. Alternatively and / or additionally, the electronics can provide a direct current (DC) voltage, for example, 5 V, 12 V, and / or 24 V. "Standard mains voltage" is understood to mean, in particular, a voltage such as that supplied by at least one energy supplier in a power grid. The electronics enable the battery charging case to advantageously supply power to devices operated with an AC voltage, especially devices operated with mains voltage, independently of the mains supply.

[0021] Furthermore, it is proposed that the battery charging case have at least one USB interface. Preferably, the USB interface is designed as a power output. A "USB interface" is understood to mean, in particular, at least one plug and / or socket conforming to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard. The USB interface allows for the convenient, mains-independent, and power supply of a large number of different devices with USB interfaces without the need for an additional power adapter.

[0022] In a further embodiment, it is proposed that the BUS system has at least two receiving areas for at least one specific unit. Advantageously, the unit can be arranged in the receiving areas along a stepped or grid pattern in discrete, different positions or steplessly or seamlessly along a path. Preferably, the receiving areas overlap at least partially. Advantageously, the unit is designed as a battery charging device. The receiving areas allow an operator to conveniently, variably, and space-savingly arrange the unit or multiple units, and in particular, different units with different external dimensions can be advantageously arranged.

[0023] Furthermore, a system consisting of a battery and a battery charging case is proposed, and the battery is intended to be connected to a hand tool and charged by the charging case. The term "battery" is understood to mean, in particular, a unit with at least one accumulator cell. Advantageously, the battery is intended to supply energy to a motor and / or a measuring sensor of a hand tool. The term "hand tool" is understood to include, in particular, all hand tools that a professional would consider useful, such as drills, rotary hammers, saws, planers, screwdrivers, milling machines, grinders, angle grinders, multi-tools, and / or hand measuring tools, and especially power tools. Specifically, a "battery connected to a hand tool" is understood to mean a battery that is electrically connected to a hand tool.The system allows an operator to conveniently charge a battery connected to a hand tool, especially without having to disconnect the battery and the hand tool. drawing

[0024] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawing. The drawing illustrates an embodiment of the invention. The drawing, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations. Description of the exemplary embodiment

[0025] Fig.Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a battery charging case 10 according to the invention. The battery charging case 10 is designed as a battery hand tool case and has a battery connection device 12. Furthermore, the battery charging case 10 has a case body 14 with a base body 44 and a case lid 46. When the case lid 46 is closed, the base body 44 and the case lid 46 define a receiving area 48 of the case body 14 for the battery connection device 12, for batteries 38, for battery charging devices 26, 28, 30 and for one or more hand tools (not shown in detail).

[0026] The battery charging case 10 has an electrical power output 16 and a power supply unit 18. The power supply unit 18 has electronics 40 and two electrical connecting elements 50 and 52. The connecting elements 50 and 52 are each designed as cables. One connecting element 50 connects the power supply unit 18, in particular the electronics 40 of the power supply unit 18, to the power output 16. The other connecting element 52 connects the power supply unit 18, or rather the electronics 40, to the battery connection device 12. Thus, the power supply unit 18 connects the power output 16 and the battery connection device 12 to supply the power output 16 with electrical energy.

[0027] The battery charging case 10 has three battery charging devices 26, 28, 30. The battery connection device 12 has three coupling elements 20, 22, 24 formed by locking strips. The coupling elements 20, 22, 24 connect the battery charging devices 26, 28, 30, mechanically and electrically, to a BUS system 36 of the case body 14, in a separable manner. Thus, the power supply unit 18 can supply the power output 16 with electrical energy from several batteries 38 connected to the battery charging devices 26, 28, 30. The battery charging devices 26, 28, 30 have locking hooks (not shown) designed to be engaged in the locking strips or in the coupling elements 20, 22, 24. Electrical lines of the BUS system 36 are arranged in the coupling means 20, 22, 24.

[0028] The BUS system 36 is mechanically fixed to the base body 44 of the case body 14 and electrically connects the battery charging devices 26, 28, 30 to each other. Furthermore, the BUS system 36 electrically connects the battery charging devices 26, 28, 30 to the power supply unit 18 via the connecting element 52. The BUS system 36 has several receiving areas 43 for the battery charging devices 26, 28, 30. The battery charging devices 26, 28, 30 can be arranged at any position along a path that runs parallel to the coupling means 20, 22, 24.

[0029] Alternatively, battery charging devices could be partially formed in one piece with the case body 14; for example, charging slots of the battery charging devices (not shown in detail) and an area for charging electronics of the battery charging devices (not shown in detail) could be injection-molded together with the case body 14.

[0030] The battery charging devices 26, 28, 30 each have a power input 56 by means of which they can each be directly connected to a power source (not shown), for example a power supply unit, in order to charge batteries 38 in an area separate from the case body 14, in particular outside the receiving area 43. The power input 56 is designed as part of a plug connection.

[0031] The first battery charging device 26 has electrical contacts (not shown). These contacts allow the first battery charging device 26 to be directly electrically connected to the battery 38 for charging and discharging. The second battery charging device 28 has a coupling device 39, which is designed as a coil. The coupling device 39 allows the battery charging device 28 to charge and discharge a battery 38 without physical contact and to exchange data with the battery 38. The third battery charging device 30 has a battery connection cable 58. The battery connection cable 58 allows the battery charging device 30 to charge and discharge a battery (not shown) connected to a hand tool. Like the batteries 38 shown, this battery has a power input 60 that can be contacted when the battery 38 is connected to the hand tool.

[0032] The battery charging devices 26, 28, 30 each have a monitoring device 62, 64, 66, which monitors the temperature and charge level of the batteries 38 connected to the battery charging devices 26, 28, 30. Alternatively, the power supply unit 18 could have a monitoring device that monitors all or at least several of the battery charging devices connected to the power supply unit 18 and the batteries connected to the battery charging devices, for example by means of a multiplexer. In this case, the monitoring device is partially integrated with the electronics of the power supply unit 18, and the BUS system 36 has data and / or measurement lines.

[0033] The case body 14 has three power inputs 34, 68, 70, which are connected to the power supply unit 18. The first power input 68 is designed as a 12 to 24 volt DC input and can be powered by a motor vehicle (not shown). The second power input 70 is designed as an AC input and can be powered by an AC voltage (110 to 230 V, 50 to 60 Hz). Furthermore, the case body 14 has a suspension device 32 with the third power input 34. The suspension device 32 is designed as a handle. When the suspension device 32 of the battery charging case 10 is attached to a holder, the suspension device 32 automatically connects the third power input 34 to a power source (not shown), for example, the motor vehicle.Furthermore, it is possible that one of the energy inputs 34, 68, 70 or another energy input is designed as an electrically contactless energy input.

[0034] Additionally, when the battery charging case 10 is loaded into a designated area of ​​the vehicle, its energy input could be automatically connected to a power output of the vehicle. For example, the vehicle could have a designated shelf for this purpose.

[0035] The supply unit 18 supplies the energy output 16 of the hand tool either from a battery 38, which is discharged, for example, by one of the battery charging devices 26, 28, 30, or by means of one of the energy inputs 34, 68, 70 of the case body 14.

[0036] The electronics 40 provides an adjustable output voltage at one element 72 of a connector of the power output 16 and an alternating voltage, configured as a standard mains voltage (230V, 50Hz and / or 110V, 60Hz), at another element 74 of a connector of the power output 16. The adjustable output voltage can be set by an operator (not shown) using a rotary knob 76. For example, the adjustable output voltage can be used as a jump starter for a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the battery charging case 10 has two USB interfaces 42, which are supplied with a corresponding voltage (5V) by the electronics 40.In addition, further energy outputs not shown in detail, such as a vehicle electrical socket (DIN ISO 4165), an electrically contactless energy output and / or devices of the battery charging case 10 not shown in detail, such as lamps and / or a radio, could be supplied with energy by the electronics 40.

Claims

[1] Battery charging case with at least one battery connection device (12) for electrically and mechanically detachable connection of at least one battery (38), wherein the battery (38) is designed to supply energy to a hand tool, and the battery connection device (12) is provided for exchanging electrical energy directly or indirectly with the at least one battery (38) in at least one operating state, a case body (14) and an electrical energy output (16) which is provided for drawing electrical energy out of the case body (14) and forwarding it to a third device, characterized bya power supply unit (18) connected to the electrical power output (16) and the battery connection device (12) for supplying the electrical power output (16) with energy from the battery (38) attachable to the battery connection device (12) in at least one operating state, a battery charging device (26, 28, 30) for charging the battery (38) attachable to the battery connection device (12), and a power input (34, 68, 70) connected to the power supply unit (18) and provided for transferring energy from an external power source to the battery charging case, wherein the power supply unit (18) supplies the electrical power output (16) with energy either from the battery (38) or by means of the power input (34, 68, 70) of the case body (14), and wherein the case body (14) comprises a base body (44) and a case lid (46),which, with a closed case lid (46), define a receiving area (48) of the case body (14) for the battery connection device (12), for at least one battery (38), for the battery charging device (26, 28, 30) and for at least one hand tool. [2] Battery charging case according to claim 1, characterized by , that the battery connection device (12) has at least one coupling means (20, 22, 24) which is designed to connect the battery charging device (26, 28, 30) to the case body (14) in a mechanically separable and electrically separable manner. [3] Battery charging case according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the suitcase body (14) has a suspension device (32) with a power input (34). [4] Battery charging case according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the suitcase body (14) has at least one BUS system (36) designed to connect several units at least electrically. [5] Battery charging case according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the battery charging device (26, 28, 30) is designed to charge a battery (38) separately from the case body (14). [6] Battery charging case according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the battery charging device (28) has at least one coupling device (39) which is designed to charge a battery (38) electrically without contact. [7] Battery charging case according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an electronics (40) designed to provide an adjustable output voltage and / or an alternating voltage. [8] Battery charging case according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one USB interface (42). [9] Battery charging case according to claim 4, characterized by that the BUS system (36) has at least two receiving areas (43) for at least one single, specific unit. [10] System comprising a battery (38) and a battery charging case (10) according to one of the preceding claims. [11] System according to claim 10, characterized by , that the battery (38) is intended to be charged by connecting it to a hand tool and the battery charging case (10).

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