Structural element for rechargeable battery

Abstract

The invention relates to a rechargeable battery, in particular as a detachable power supply for a machine tool, containing at least one energy store element and a rechargeable battery housing having a cover element, four side walls and one bottom element. A first and a second elevation are contained on at least the bottom element, wherein each elevation contains at least two angled, opposite and adjoining surfaces which are arranged at an angle of 90° to 120°, preferably 105°, to one another, or each elevation is designed substantially conically, wherein each conical elevation has an opening angle of 90° to 120°, preferably 105°.

Description

[0001] Structural element for accumulator

[0002] The present invention relates to an accumulator, in particular as a removable energy supply for a machine tool, containing at least one energy storage element and a battery housing with a cover element, four side walls and a base element.

[0003] Accumulators (also called batteries) as power supplies for machine tools are widely known in the art. These accumulators typically contain a number of energy storage cells (also called battery cells) that are designed and used to absorb, store, and release electrical energy. The absorption of electrical energy into the energy storage cells can also be referred to as charging. The release of electrical energy from the energy storage cells can also be referred to as discharging.

[0004] To charge or recharge with electrical energy, the battery is usually connected to a charging device (also called a charger). The charging device supplies electrical energy to the individual energy storage cells of the battery according to a predetermined charging setting (also called charging mode) with fixed parameters for the actual charging process.

[0005] The battery typically has a relatively sturdy housing made of polyamide or similar material. Although the battery housing is designed to be solid and particularly durable, even under extreme conditions, it primarily serves as a storage container for the energy storage cells, protecting them from dirt, moisture, and moderate mechanical stress.

[0006] However, misuse of the battery, in particular using the battery as a hammer replacement to drive nails into materials, can lead to permanent damage and / or total failure of the entire battery.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to solve the problem described above.

[0008] The object is also achieved by the subject matter of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the corresponding subclaims. The object is achieved in particular by an accumulator, in particular as a removable energy supply for a machine tool, containing at least one energy storage element and a battery housing with a cover element, four side walls, and a base element.

[0009] According to the invention, it is provided that at least one first and second elevation is included on at least the base element, wherein each elevation contains at least two inclined, opposite and adjacent surfaces which are arranged at an angle of 90° to 120°, preferably 105°, to one another or each elevation is substantially conical, wherein each conical elevation has an opening angle of 90° to 120°, preferably 105°.

[0010] According to a further embodiment, the angle may be between 75° and 90°. The more acute the angle, the better a nail (or the like) can be deflected so that it cannot penetrate the floor element.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment, it may be possible for a concave surface to be included between two elevations.

[0012] The concave surface is designed so that the deepest part of the concave surface faces the accumulator. It should also be noted that the concave surface does not have a single tapered point, but instead contains a surface (or bottom surface) at the deepest point of the concave surface.

[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment, it may be possible for the at least first and second elevations to be included on at least the cover element. This makes it easy to prevent a nail or the like from penetrating the cover element when the accumulator itself (i.e., detached from a power tool or charging device) is used as a hammer replacement.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment, it may be possible for the at least first and second elevations to be included on at least one side wall. This makes it easy to prevent a nail or the like from penetrating one of the side walls when the accumulator is used as a hammer replacement. According to a further advantageous embodiment, it may be possible for the at least first and second elevations to be arranged substantially over the entire surface of the base element, the cover element, and / or at least one side wall.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, it may be possible for the base element, cover element and / or at least one side wall to have a wall thickness of at least 3 mm, at least in sections. It should be noted that the wall thickness depends on the material used for the battery housing. The harder and / or denser the material used for the battery housing, the thinner the wall thickness can be. If the material used for the battery housing is polyamide, the wall thickness can be substantially 3 mm. The sole or additional use of steel can result in a wall thickness of less than 3 mm.

[0016] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the figures. The figure illustrates a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention. The figures, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. Those skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them into useful further combinations.

[0017] In the figure, identical and similar components are numbered with the same reference numerals.

[0018] It shows:

[0019] Figure 1 is a side view of an accumulator according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment;

[0020] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a battery housing;

[0021] Figure 3 is a perspective bottom view of the battery housing;

[0022] Figure 4 a frontal bottom view of the battery housing;

[0023] Figure 5 shows a frontal interior view of the battery housing;

[0024] Figure 6 shows a further side view of a portion of the battery housing;

[0025] Figure 7 shows a further perspective view of a part of the battery housing with

[0026] energy storage elements;

[0027] Figure 8 shows a further perspective view of a portion of the battery housing with a cell holder for the energy storage elements;

[0028] Figure 9 shows a further side view of a portion of the battery housing with the cell holder and energy storage elements;

[0029] Figure 10 is a partial view of the cell holder and a base element of the battery housing;

[0030] Figure 11 shows a further side view of a portion of the battery housing with the cell holder and energy storage elements;

[0031] Figure 12 is a perspective view of a floor element with a second embodiment of the elevations;

[0032] Figure 13 is a perspective view of a single elevation according to the second embodiment; Figure 14 is a perspective view of a floor element with a third embodiment of the elevations;

[0033] Figure 15 is a perspective view of a single elevation according to the third embodiment; Figure 16 is a side view of the accumulator according to the invention according to a further embodiment; and

[0034] Figure 17 is a side view of the accumulator according to the invention with upright arranged energy storage cells.

[0035] Examples of implementation:

[0036] Figure 1 shows an accumulator 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0037] The accumulator 1 can be detachably connected to a power tool to supply the power tool with electrical energy. The power tool is not shown in the figures, but can be configured as a hammer drill, drill, cordless screwdriver, grinder, saw, or the like.

[0038] The accumulator 1 essentially contains a battery housing 2, a number of energy storage cells 3, a battery interface 4, and a control device 5.

[0039] The energy storage cells 3 can also be referred to as battery cells.

[0040] The battery housing 2 essentially contains a cover element 2a, four side walls 2b, and a base element 2c. The base element 2c is positioned in direction A on the battery housing 2.

[0041] The battery interface 4 serves for the electrical or electronic as well as mechanical connection of the battery 1 to the machine tool or to a charging device.

[0042] The charging device is also not shown in the figures but is used to charge the energy storage cells of the accumulator with electrical energy.

[0043] The energy storage cells 3 are used to absorb, store and release electrical energy.

[0044] As indicated in the figures, the energy storage cells 3 are cylindrical in shape and designed based on lithium-ion technology. Each energy storage cell 3 contains a contact device at one end, which serves to transmit electrical energy.

[0045] The individual contact devices are connected to the control device 5 via corresponding lines 6.

[0046] As indicated in Figures 7 to 11, the energy storage cells 3 are fixedly positioned inside the battery housing 2 by a cell holder 7. In Figures 7 to 11, the cell holder 7 is only partially shown.

[0047] Alternatively, the energy storage cells 3 may also be based on another suitable technology.

[0048] The contact devices are not shown in the figures.

[0049] The cylindrical shape of the energy storage cells 3 is also optional, so any other suitable shape or geometry can be selected. In particular, it is also possible for the energy storage cells 3 to be designed as pouch cells. It is also possible for the accumulator 1 to contain both cylindrical energy storage cells 3 and pouch cells. In particular, it is possible for the accumulator 1 to contain a single cylindrical energy storage cell 3 and a single pouch cell.

[0050] The control device 5 regulates and controls various functions of the accumulator 1. Furthermore, the control device 5 is connected to the energy storage cells 3 and the battery interface 4 via corresponding lines 6 such that electrical energy can reach the battery interface 4 from the energy storage cells 3 via the control device 5.

[0051] A rail device 8 is provided for the releasable mechanical coupling of the accumulator 1 to the machine tool.

[0052] A locking device (not shown in the figures) serves to releasably connect the accumulator 1 to the machine tool (not shown).

[0053] According to a first embodiment of the rechargeable battery 1 according to the invention, a plurality of elevations 9 are positioned on the base element 2c of the battery housing. As can be seen in particular in Figures 2 to 4, the elevations 9 according to the first embodiment are arranged in an elongated configuration in direction B across almost the entire width of the base element 2c. The elevations 9 run essentially parallel to one another. As indicated in particular in Figures 7 to 9, the lowest energy storage cells 3 in direction A are aligned or positioned with respect to the elevations 9.

[0054] According to the first embodiment, each elevation 9 includes two inclined, opposite, and adjacent surfaces 10 (or side surfaces): The tip 11, i.e., the side edge where the two surfaces 10 adjoin each other, points in the direction of arrow A and thus away from the base element 2c. The angle α between the surfaces is 105°.

[0055] Alternatively, the angle a between the surfaces can be between 90° and 120°. It is also possible for the angle a between the surfaces to be between 75° and 90°.

[0056] As also indicated in the figures, the area (in other words, the valley between two elevations) is designed in the form of a concave surface 12. The corresponding convex surface faces the interior of the battery housing.

[0057] Furthermore, the wall thickness 13 of the base element is 3 mm. Alternatively, the wall thickness 13 can also be more or less than 3 mm. Furthermore, the wall thickness of a side wall 2b and the cover element 2a is also 3 mm. According to a further embodiment of the accumulator 1 according to the invention, the elevations 9 each have four surfaces (or side surfaces). The elevations 9 are thus designed in the shape of pyramids, see Figures 12 and 13.

[0058] As indicated in the figures, the pyramid-shaped elevations 9 are aligned with one another such that a plurality of elevations 9 are arranged in a plurality of rows along directions B and C. The rows of elevations 9 along direction B and the rows along direction C are arranged substantially parallel to one another. The rows of elevations 9 along direction C are positioned substantially orthogonally or at right angles to the rows of elevations 9 along direction B. The tips of the pyramid-shaped elevations 9 extend substantially in a straight line along the respective directions B and C.

[0059] Figure 17 shows a further embodiment of the accumulator 1 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the elevations 9 are designed in the shape of cones. In the figures, the conical elevations 9 are shown with a point.

[0060] According to an alternative embodiment, the tip of the conical elevations 9 can also be blunt or rounded. Furthermore, it is also possible for the elevations 9 to be essentially truncated cones.

[0061] According to a further embodiment of the accumulator 1 according to the invention, the elevations 9 are positioned on the cover element 2a and / or on the side walls 2b of the battery housing 2, see Figure 16.

[0062] Figure 17 shows a further embodiment of the accumulator 1 according to the invention. The energy storage cells 3 of the accumulator 1 are arranged upright relative to one another along the direction A. The elevations 9 are arranged in the direction A below each energy storage cell 3.

[0063] List of reference symbols

[0064] 1 accumulator

[0065] 2 battery housings

[0066] 2a Cover element 2b Side wall

[0067] 2c floor element

[0068] 3 energy storage cells

[0069] 4 Battery interface

[0070] 5 Control device 6 Line

[0071] 7 cell holders

[0072] 8 Rail device

[0073] 9 Survey

[0074] 10 Area of ​​a hill 11 Peak of a hill

[0075] 12 concave surface

[0076] 13 Wall thickness of the floor element

Claims

An accumulator (1), in particular as a removable energy supply for a machine tool, comprising at least one energy storage element (3) and a battery housing (2) with a cover element (2a), four side walls (2b), and a base element (2c), characterized in that at least one first and second elevation (9) is provided on at least the base element (2c), each elevation (9) comprising at least two inclined, opposite, and adjacent surfaces (10) arranged at an angle (α) of 90° to 120°, preferably 105°, to one another, or each elevation (9) is substantially conical, each conical elevation (9) having an opening angle (α) of 90° to 120°, preferably 105°. An accumulator (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a concave surface (12) is provided between two elevations (9).Accumulator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least first and second elevations (9) are contained on at least the cover element (2a). Accumulator (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least first and second elevations (9) are contained on at least one side wall (2b). Accumulator (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least first and second elevations (9) are arranged substantially over the entire surface of the base element (2c), the cover element (2a) and / or at least one side wall (2b). Accumulator (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the base element (2c), cover element (2a) and / or at least one side wall (2b) has, at least in sections, a wall thickness (12) of at least 3 mm.

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