Air cooling of a rechargeable battery block by means of a charging device

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging device (100) for charging a rechargeable battery block (102) for a hand-held device. The charging device (100) comprises: a charging housing (104); a receiving device (106) provided on the charging housing (104), for receiving the rechargeable battery block (102) for the purpose of charging; an air-conveying apparatus (108) in and / or on the charging housing (104), for conveying air; and a closed air duct (110) which extends from the receiving device (106) through an interior of the charging housing (104), so that, by means of the air-conveying apparatus (108), air can be led through the rechargeable battery block (102) and / or past the rechargeable battery block (102) and through the interior of the air duct (110).

Description

[0001] Air cooling of a battery block using a charging device

[0002] The invention relates to a charging device, a charging arrangement, a battery block and a method for charging a battery block.

[0003] When charging a battery pack of a handheld device (e.g. an electric drill), considerable heat is generated, which limits the possible charging power and therefore leads to a long charging process.

[0004] DE 102004020147 B4, DE 102015002285 A1, DE 102018204761 A1 and WO 2019 / 005765 A1 disclose charging devices for battery blocks with air cooling.

[0005] However, the heat generated during charging still negatively limits the charging time. Furthermore, air cooling of a battery pack can lead to contamination.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to enable rapid charging of a battery block by means of a charging device without excessive contamination.

[0007] This object is achieved by the subject matter having the features according to the independent patent claims. Further embodiments are shown in the dependent claims.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a charging device for charging a battery pack for a handheld device is provided, wherein the charging device has a charging housing, a receiving device provided on the charging housing for receiving the battery pack for charging, an air conveying device in and / or on the charging housing for conveying air, and a closed air guide channel which extends from the receiving device through an interior of the charging housing, so that by means of the air conveying device (in particular during charging, before charging and / or after charging) air can be guided through the battery pack and / or past the battery pack and through the interior of the air guide channel.

[0009] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a charging arrangement is provided which has a battery pack (for example a battery pack with the features described below) for a handheld device and a charging device with the features described above for charging the battery pack when the battery pack is received on the receiving device, wherein (in particular during charging, before charging and / or after charging) air can be passed through the battery pack and / or past the battery pack and through the interior of the air guide channel by means of the air conveying device.

[0010] According to a further embodiment of the invention, a battery pack for a handheld device is provided, which can be charged with a charging device (for example with a charging device having the features described above), wherein the battery pack has electrical contacts for charging the battery pack when the battery pack is received on a receiving device of the charging device, a battery housing with at least one battery air supply opening and with at least one battery air discharge opening, which are designed such that (in particular during charging, before charging and / or after charging) by means of an air conveying device of the charging device, air can be guided through the at least one battery air supply opening into the battery housing, through the interior of the battery housing and through the at least one battery air discharge opening out of the battery housing and into the charging device,and a dirt collection pocket in the battery housing adjacent to the at least one battery air supply opening for collecting dirt carried into the battery housing by the air.

[0011] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for charging a battery pack for a handheld device by means of a charging device is provided, wherein the method comprises receiving the battery pack for charging on a receiving device of the charging device provided on a charging housing, and conveying air by means of an air conveying device of the charging device into and / or on the charging housing along a fully enclosed air guide channel which extends from the receiving device through an interior of the charging housing, so that by means of the air conveying device (in particular during charging, before charging and / or after charging) air is guided through the battery pack and / or past the battery pack and through the interior of the air guide channel.

[0012] In the context of the present application, a "charging device" can be understood in particular as a device that can be designed to electrically charge a fully or partially discharged battery pack. The charging device can draw electrical charging energy, for example, from a power grid. The charging device can electrically charge a battery pack accommodated thereon if corresponding electrically conductive electrical contacts of the charging device and the battery pack are brought into electrically conductive contact with one another.

[0013] In the context of the present application, a "battery pack" can be understood in particular as an electrical energy supply device that can supply a power tool (for example, an electrical hand-held device such as a drill) that can be coupled to the battery pack with electrical energy. For this purpose, a battery pack can have one battery cell or a plurality of battery cells. The battery pack can preferably be rechargeable, i.e., for example, it can be recharged after being discharged by connecting it to a charging device.

[0014] In the context of the present application, a "handheld device" can be understood in particular as a portable device that can be manually operated and carried by a user and with which a craft task can be carried out, for example, the processing of a substrate. The handheld device can advantageously be an electric handheld device that can be operated by means of an electrically generated drive force. Such an electric handheld device can be controlled by means of electrical control signals. In particular, by means of a handheld device and by applying a drive force in the form of a longitudinal force and / or a torque, a hole can be drilled in a substrate and / or a drive force in the form of a longitudinal force and / or a torque can be applied to a fastening element to be inserted into a substrate.For example, the handheld device can be designed to drive a processing device, and thus a drill and / or a fastener, in rotation. Examples of electric or motor-driven handheld devices include a cordless screwdriver, a cordless drill driver, a rotary screwdriver, an impulse screwdriver, a ratchet screwdriver, a drill, an impact wrench (in particular a cordless impact wrench), and a hammer drill.

[0015] In the context of the present application, a "receiving device for receiving a battery pack" can be understood in particular as an electromechanical interface of a charging device, which is designed for the (for example, form-fitting) mechanical reception of a battery pack while forming an electrical connection between the battery pack and the receiving device. Preferably, at least one opening can be formed in the charging housing in the region of the receiving device, through which air can be guided to cool the battery pack before and / or during charging.

[0016] In the context of the present application, an "air conveying device" can be understood in particular as a component or assembly designed to convey air. To convey air, the air conveying device can be supplied with electrical energy, for example from a power grid or a battery. For example, an air conveying device can have one or more fans. In the context of the present application, a "closed air duct" can be understood in particular as a physical structure in the interior of the charging housing that defines an air duct path along which the air can flow through the charging housing. By opening the air duct on the inlet and outlet sides and closing the casing side, a flow of air from the interior of the air duct into other areas of the charging housing interior of the charging device can be prevented.Preferably, the air duct is completely closed and extends continuously between at least one charging air supply opening and at least one charging air discharge opening of a charging device. Such an air duct can prevent air (e.g., contaminated air) from coming into physical contact with the charging electronics as it flows through the charging device.

[0017] In the context of the present application, a "dirt collection pocket in a battery housing" can be understood in particular as a cavity inside the battery housing that is in fluid communication with air guided through the battery housing. If air flows through the battery housing from at least one battery air supply opening to at least one battery air discharge opening, it enters into operative communication with the dirt collection pocket - preferably directly - after flowing into the battery air supply opening, so that any dirt carried along with the air can be completely or partially collected in the dirt collection pocket. A dirt collection pocket can clearly be used to deplete dirt-laden air.

[0018] In the context of the present application, a "main surface" can be understood in particular as one of two opposite surfaces of the charging case or the battery housing, which form the two largest surfaces of the charging case or the battery housing. The two main surfaces of the charging case or the battery housing are located between the smaller side walls of the charging case or the battery housing. A main surface can in particular form a top side or a bottom side of the charging case or the battery housing, for example, when the charging device is arranged on a horizontal surface (for example, a table) or the battery block is arranged on a horizontally oriented charging device. If the charging device is mounted on a vertical surface (for example, on a wall), the mounting surface for wall mounting and a battery receiving surface opposite this surface form the two main surfaces of the charging case.One of the main surfaces of the charging housing can thus be a support surface or a mounting surface, while the other main surface opposite can form the battery receiving surface. In the battery housing, one of the main surfaces can be a charging side facing the charging device during charging.

[0019] According to an exemplary embodiment, a charging device for charging a battery pack is provided, in which a receiving device is formed on a charging housing, on which a battery pack to be electrically charged can be electromechanically received. An air conveying device can be mounted in the charging housing to suck or push air through the battery pack and subsequently through a closed air duct inside the charging housing. This measure ensures efficient cooling of the interior of the battery pack through a cooling air flow. As a result, the temperature of the battery pack can be kept sufficiently low during charging and / or lowered before charging after previous use of the battery pack to enable a fast and safe charging process.When using the battery pack before charging, for example, in conjunction with a handheld device, and / or during electrical charging of a fully or partially discharged battery pack, significant heat generation can occur, which limits the speed of a safe charging process. Active cooling of the battery pack can thus increase the charging speed. This can be achieved advantageously without the risk of severe contamination of the charging device by dirt in the air or on the battery pack (for example, due to previous use) by creating a closed air duct in the charging housing of the charging device.By extending a preferably fully enclosed air duct along the entire distance between at least one charging air supply opening and at least one charging air discharge opening in the charging housing, it can be ensured that the air initially passed through the battery pack and subsequently flowing through the charging device does not contaminate sensitive components of the charging device, in particular its charging electronics. Components of the charging device inside the charging housing can be completely decoupled or shielded from the cooling air flow by means of the fully enclosed air duct. Even if the air flow contains dirt, it cannot negatively affect sensitive components of the charging device.This makes it possible to quickly and safely charge a battery block using a charging device, while reliably protecting components from excessive contamination.

[0020] It is particularly advantageous if a charging device with the described functions is operated in combination with a battery pack whose battery housing is equipped with at least one battery air supply opening and at least one battery air discharge opening, between which the charging device's air conveying system can draw air to cool the battery pack. Even if the air drawn through the battery pack (for example, in a construction site environment) is contaminated, the charging device's closed air duct described above can reliably prevent unwanted contamination of critical components of the charging device.In order to further reduce the development of dirt and also to protect the interior of the battery block from excessive contamination by dirt-laden cooling air, a dirt collection pocket can be connected to the battery air supply opening in the battery block in order to catch at least some of the dirt as soon as potentially dirt-laden ambient air flows in through at least one battery supply opening of the battery housing and collect it in the dirt collection pocket.

[0021] In the following, additional exemplary embodiments of the charging device, the charging arrangement, the battery block and the method are described.

[0022] According to an exemplary embodiment, the air conveying device can be designed to draw in air and expel the drawn-in air. By configuring and arranging the air conveying device to draw in ambient air through the battery pack and subsequently through the charging device, the air-cooled battery pack can be kept free of active cooling components and thus be designed in a simple manner. Indicatively, the battery pack behaves like a passive cooling object during charging, to which electrical energy is supplied.

[0023] According to an exemplary embodiment, the air conveying device can comprise a radial fan. Such a radial fan can be designed to convey axially inflowing air and to discharge it radially or laterally. A radial fan can be clearly a fan that draws in air axially (in particular parallel to a rotational axis of an impeller of the radial fan) and then blows it out again at an offset of 90°, i.e., radially. Thus, the configuration of the air conveying device as a radial fan promotes a desired configuration according to a preferred embodiment, in which air is to flow vertically into a main surface (for example, a top side) of the charging device from the battery pack and, after being redirected by the radial fan, escape laterally from the charging device.

[0024] According to an exemplary embodiment, the air conveying device can comprise another fan, in particular an axial fan, as an alternative or in addition to a radial fan. If an axial fan is provided, it can be combined with a deflection device for deflecting the direction of the air flow.

[0025] According to an exemplary embodiment, the charging device can have at least one molded part with a closed outer surface in the charging housing, which delimits the air duct. Such a molded part can be manufactured cost-effectively from plastic, for example as an injection-molded part. Said molded part can be completely closed laterally to define the air duct. The air duct defined by such a molded part can be curved, in particular to redirect cooling air flowing essentially vertically out of the battery pack and flowing into the air duct of the charging device into a substantially horizontal direction for lateral discharge from the charging device. A molded part can be easily attached to or in the air duct of the charging device, which facilitates simple assembly of the charging device.

[0026] According to an exemplary embodiment, the air duct in the charging housing can be formed by means of a single molded part or by means of exactly two molded parts. When using a single molded part, in particular designed as an injection-molded part, the effort required to produce the air duct is particularly low, and a circumferentially closed configuration with particularly high reliability in terms of airtightness is possible. Alternatively, several molded parts (for example, three, four, five or more molded parts) can jointly form the air duct and delimit it laterally. For example, two composable molded parts can be provided, between which the air conveying device can be accommodated and installed in a particularly simple manner. In other words, simplified assembly of the air conveying device can be achieved when using exactly two molded parts.

[0027] According to an exemplary embodiment, the air conveying device can be arranged inside the at least one molded part. Illustratively, the at least one molded part can have a closed wall for hermetically sealing the air duct and for mounting the air conveying device thereon. The molded part can thus be designed as a multifunctional part that handles air guidance, dirt protection for critical components of the loading device, and the mounting support for the air conveying device.

[0028] According to an exemplary embodiment, the air duct can extend from a main surface (e.g., a top surface) of the charging housing to a side wall of the charging housing. The air duct can define the entire flow channel of the cooling air through the charging device and completely enclose it. Apart from the air duct, which can preferably be defined by at least one molded part, and optionally a charging housing of the charging device, the cooling air, which may contain dirt, then does not come into contact with any other component of the charging device.

[0029] According to an exemplary embodiment, the charging device can comprise charging electronics in the charging housing. For example, the charging electronics can comprise a circuit board on and / or in which electronic components for providing the charging function of the battery module can be mounted. Such charging electronics are susceptible to foreign materials such as dirt, dust, and moisture, which can negatively affect the functionality of the charging electronics. The air duct can reliably protect the charging electronics located outside the charging device from dirt, dust, and moisture.

[0030] According to an exemplary embodiment, the air duct can be designed to completely shield the charging electronics from the conveyed air. By providing a closed air duct in the charging device, it can be prevented that the cooling air, which may contain foreign materials, comes into direct physical contact with the sensitive charging electronics as it flows through the charging device.

[0031] According to an exemplary embodiment, the air duct can be configured to completely shield the interior of the charging housing from the conveyed air. According to such a preferred embodiment, all components of the charging device housed inside the charging housing—with the exception of the air duct and the associated air conveying device—can be protected from undesirable interaction with cooling air possibly containing foreign materials as it flows through the charging device. Advantageously, the cooling air flowing out of the battery pack and into the charging device can interact exclusively with the closed air duct and the associated air conveying device as it flows through the charging device, and can be shielded from all other internal components of the charging device.

[0032] According to an exemplary embodiment, the charging housing can have at least one charging air supply opening and at least one charging air discharge opening and can be designed such that, by means of the air conveying device, air can be guided from the battery block through the at least one charging air supply opening into the air duct, through the interior of the air duct, and out of the air duct through the at least one charging air discharge opening. Preferably, the at least one charging air supply opening can be arranged on the receiving device for receiving the battery block on the charging device. For example, recesses in the charging housing on the receiving device can have a plurality of electrically conductive electrical contacts and a respective associated charging air supply opening.This ensures that a battery pack picked up for charging on the receiving device is brought into operative connection with the at least one charging air supply opening without any further user activity. The closed air duct can be directly connected to the at least one charging air supply opening and extend through the interior of the charging device to the at least one charging air discharge opening.

[0033] According to an exemplary embodiment, the at least one charging air supply opening can be arranged on a top side of the charging housing, and the at least one charging air discharge opening can be arranged on a side wall of the charging housing. Due to the provision of the at least one charging air supply opening on a top side of the charging housing, preferably on the receiving device for receiving the battery pack for charging, the cooling air to be sucked through the battery pack can be conveyed through the battery pack and subsequently through the charging device by means of the air conveying device arranged inside the charging housing without any further measures. The at least one charging air discharge opening on a side wall of the charging device, in particular on a side wall facing away from a user during operation, can ensure efficient discharge of the heated cooling air from the charging device, which counteracts overheating of the charging device.

[0034] According to an exemplary embodiment, the charging housing may have no further openings other than the at least one charging air supply opening and the at least one charging air discharge opening. Apart from the aforementioned openings for passing the cooling air to cool the battery pack, the charging housing may thus be completely closed to the outside and thus reliably shield, in particular, the charging electronics arranged within it from environmental influences. In particular, the charging housing may be hermetically sealed, apart from the aforementioned openings.

[0035] A person skilled in the art will understand that a charging housing without further openings is a charging housing in which, apart from the at least one charging air supply opening and the at least one charging air discharge opening, there is no other significantly large opening that significantly exposes the interior of the charging housing to environmental influences. For example, due to assembly, manufacturing, or tolerance reasons, very small gaps can form between an upper shell and a lower shell of the charging housing, which a person skilled in the art will not understand as a further opening in the charging housing. Even a mini-bore (the area of ​​which cannot exceed 0.01% of the total area of ​​the charging housing) for the escape of condensate will not be understood by a person skilled in the art as a further opening in the charging housing.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the closed air duct can enclose the air conveying device within the air duct and exclude the entire remaining interior of the charging housing (including, for example, charging electronics arranged in the remaining interior of the charging housing) from the passage of air. The airflow thus never directly interacts with the entire remaining interior of the charging housing, but only with the enclosed interior of the air duct. This provides excellent protection against dirt for sensitive components, which can be arranged in a quiet area without airflow.

[0037] According to an exemplary embodiment, the battery pack can have a battery housing with at least one battery air supply opening and at least one battery air discharge opening and can be designed such that, by means of the air conveying device, air can be guided or conveyed through the at least one battery air supply opening into the battery housing, through the interior of the battery housing and through the at least one battery air discharge opening out of the battery housing and into the charging device. Preferably, the at least one battery air discharge opening can be adjacent to the receiving device of the charging device for receiving the battery pack when the battery pack is mounted there for charging. For example, recesses in the battery housing can have a plurality of electrically conductive electrical contacts and a respective associated battery air discharge opening.This ensures that a battery block picked up on the charging device's receiving device for charging is brought into operative connection with at least one charging air supply opening without any further user activity.

[0038] According to an exemplary embodiment, the at least one battery air supply opening can be arranged on a side wall of the battery housing, and the at least one battery air discharge opening can be arranged on a main surface (for example, an underside) of the battery housing. Between the at least one battery air supply opening and the at least one battery air discharge opening, the cooling air can flow inside the battery housing along components to be cooled, in particular along battery electronics and along battery cells inside the battery housing, which are charged by a charging current from the charging device and heat up in the process. Adjacent to the at least one intake-side battery air supply opening, a dirt collection pocket can be connected, past which the cooling air flows and is at least partially freed of foreign materials such as dirt.Such foreign materials automatically collect in the dirt collection bag, which can be easily emptied by a user.

[0039] According to an exemplary embodiment, the at least one battery air vent and the electrical contacts can be arranged adjacent to one another on a main surface (e.g., a bottom side) of the battery housing in such a way that the air is guided past the electrical contacts. Clearly, the cooling air can flow between the corresponding electrical contacts of the battery pack and the charging device through the above-described openings of the battery pack and the charging device, resulting in a well-defined cooling air path and error-robust handling by a user.

[0040] According to an exemplary embodiment, the at least one battery air supply opening can be arranged on a side wall of the battery housing. Ambient air can be reliably drawn in at a side wall of the battery housing without the risk of the at least one air supply opening being undesirably covered.

[0041] According to one embodiment, when the air is passed through the battery pack, dirt carried into the battery housing with the air can be collected in a dirt collection pocket in the battery housing. If the dirt collection pocket is located on the air inlet side of the battery pack, air containing dirt can be cleaned immediately as it flows into the battery pack. This also protects the interior of the battery housing from contamination.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the battery pack in the charging arrangement can have a closed battery housing (i.e., without battery air supply openings and without battery air discharge openings) and be designed such that air is guided at least partially past the battery pack by means of the air conveying device of the charging device. Thus, the charging device can advantageously also be operated with conventional or non-ventilated battery packs, wherein the air conveyed by the air conveying device can cool the battery pack to a certain extent.

[0043] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the following figures.

[0044] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a charging arrangement comprising a charging device and a battery block according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0045] Figure 2 shows a spatial view of a charging arrangement comprising a charging device and a battery block according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0046] Figures 3 to 7 show different views of a charging arrangement comprising a charging device and a battery pack according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0047] The same or similar components in different figures are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0048] Before exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the figures, some general aspects of embodiments of the invention will be explained.

[0049] According to an exemplary embodiment, a charging device for a replaceable and rechargeable battery pack of a handheld device (for example, an electric drill) is provided. The discharged battery pack to be recharged is mounted on a receiving device of the charging device and thereby electrically coupled thereto. In order to cool the battery pack by means of an air flow, the charging device can be equipped with an air conveying device. When the battery pack is mounted on the charging device, the air conveying device can convey air first through the battery pack and then along a circumferentially closed air duct in a charging housing of the charging device. For this purpose, the air conveying device in the charging device can draw in ambient air and convey it through at least one battery supply opening, through the battery pack, and out of the battery pack through at least one battery discharge opening.The at least one battery discharge opening is aligned with at least one charging supply opening of the charging device when the battery block is mounted on the charging device. The cooling air conveyed from the at least one battery air discharge opening thereby reaches the at least one charging air supply opening, through the closed air duct that runs hermetically through the charging device, and through at least one charging air discharge opening on the outlet side of the charging device back to the environment. In this case, the air conveying device is preferably arranged inside the closed air duct. Due to this configuration, the interior of the battery block can be subjected to air cooling in a defined manner during and / or before the charging process is carried out. This enables rapid charging without the risk of the battery block overheating.This advantageously prevents dirt from the ambient air or from the battery pack from entering critical areas inside the charging device. Such critical areas, especially the charging electronics inside a charging housing, can be kept separate from the cooling air flow by means of the closed air duct. This allows for rapid and error-free charging of a battery pack using a charging device.

[0050] Effective protection against dirt during electrical charging of a battery block by a charging device can be achieved alternatively or additionally by providing the battery block with at least one dirt collection pocket between its at least one battery air supply opening and its at least one battery air discharge opening. This is preferably provided in the region of the at least one battery air supply opening in order to at least partially separate dirt from the ambient air drawn in at the very beginning of the guided air path through the battery block and charging device and to accumulate it in the dirt collection pocket. Due to its spatial proximity to the at least one battery air supply opening, it is also easily possible for a user to empty separated dirt from the dirt collection pocket.

[0051] According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a battery block (also referred to as a battery pack or battery module) can be created that, in conjunction with a charging device with an air conveying device, is designed using a type of injector principle for air conveyance. This allows a direct flow of air through the battery block with a blower air stream. Advantageously, an air duct can be provided in a closed manner within an outer shell of the charger and outside an electronics installation space of the charger via a geometric duct separation.

[0052] Before and / or during a charging process for charging a battery pack using a charging device, the battery pack can be air-cooled. A closed air duct in the charging device can clearly prevent dirt transported by the cooling air flow from reaching sensitive components (in particular charging electronics) of the charging device. The charging device preferably has an air conveying device designed as a fan to accelerate the charging process by efficiently cooling the battery pack. If a completely or partially discharged battery pack comes from an application (e.g., sawing wooden beams) in which the battery pack supplied a power handheld device (e.g., a chainsaw) with electrical drive energy, charging the battery pack may require that the battery pack is first cooled down from its operating temperature before the charging process begins.Furthermore, heat is also generated when a battery pack is charged using a charging device. To dissipate heat from the battery pack, the charging device draws air through the battery pack and the charging device itself. A fan in the charging device can also draw in dirt from the battery or the ambient air, which is then at least partially carried with the cooling air through the battery pack and subsequently through a closed cooling channel in the charging device. By creating a closed cooling channel in the charging device, the dirt is carried through the charging device without remaining in the charging device to any great extent or impairing critical components of the charging device (in particular charging electronics).

[0053] If a dirt collection pocket is provided on the air inlet side of the battery block, where the incoming air releases at least some of its dirt before being drawn further through the battery block, the dirt protection of the battery module and charging device can be further improved. Such a dirt collection pocket can guide the air drawn in through the at least one battery air supply opening along a complex-shaped air path in a section of the battery block on the air inlet side (for example, along a labyrinth of wall sections) in order to achieve efficient dirt removal from the contaminated air. Arranging the dirt collection pocket on an air inlet side of the battery block can advantageously ensure that the dirt does not collect all over the battery block.

[0054] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a charging arrangement 120 comprising a charging device 100 and a battery block 102 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0055] The battery pack 102 can supply a power handset (not shown) with electrical energy during operation. For this purpose, the charged battery pack 102 can be plugged into the power handset, allowing the power handset to be operated wirelessly. After the battery pack 102 is discharged, it can be recharged.

[0056] The charging device 100 is used to charge a fully or partially discharged battery pack 102. It can be connected to a power supply via a cable 152, for example, plugged into a socket, to supply electrical energy. To charge the battery pack 102, the battery pack 102 is electromechanically received in a receiving device 106 of the charging device 100. In other words, placing the battery pack 102 onto the receiving device 106 by a user can simultaneously create a positive mechanical connection and an electrically conductive connection between the battery pack 102 and the charging device 100.

[0057] In order to cool the battery block 102 during electrical charging, ambient air is sucked in through the battery block 102 and then through the interior of the air duct 110 upstream of the air conveying device 108 or expelled downstream of the air conveying device 108 by means of an air conveying device 108, preferably designed as a radial fan, inside a closed air duct 110 of the charging device 100.

[0058] Said charging device 100 has an outer charging housing 104, made, for example, of plastic. On an upper outer side of the charging housing 104, the receiving device 106 for receiving the battery pack 102 for charging is formed, on which, in particular, a plurality of electrical contacts 156 of the charging device 100 are provided for forming an electrically conductive connection with electrically conductive electrical contacts 128 of the battery pack 102. For example, the electrical contacts 128 of the battery pack 102 can have two charging contacts (for example, a positive pole and a negative pole). Furthermore, the electrical contacts 128 of the battery pack 102 can have at least one current draw contact for power draw by a handheld device. Furthermore, it is possible for the electrical contacts 128 of the battery pack 102 to have at least one (for example, two) communication contacts.

[0059] Furthermore, the air conveying device 108, designed as a radial fan, is arranged in an interior of the air duct 110 for conveying air through the charging device 100. A fully enclosed air duct 110 is advantageously defined in the interior of the charging housing 104, extending from the receiving device 106 through an interior of the charging housing 104. By means of the air conveying device 108, when the battery pack 102 is received in the receiving device 106 for charging, air can be conveyed along a defined continuous air duct path through the battery pack 102 and through the interior of the air duct 110.

[0060] As already mentioned, the illustrated battery pack 102 can be removably attached to a power handset (not shown) to supply the power handset with electrical energy wirelessly. For this purpose, a plurality of battery cells, shown in Figure 8 with reference numeral 154, are located inside the battery pack 102. If the battery cells 154 are depleted after supplying the power handset with electrical energy, they can be recharged using the illustrated charging device 100.

[0061] The battery block 102 according to Figure 1 has the electrical contacts 128 already mentioned above for charging the battery block 102 when the battery block 102 is received in the receiving device 106 of the charging device 100 and the electrical contacts 128 are thereby brought into electrically conductive contact with the corresponding electrical contacts 156 of the charging device 100.

[0062] An outer contour of the battery block 102 is defined by a battery housing 122, preferably made of plastic. A battery air supply opening 124 is formed on a side wall of the battery housing 122, through which ambient air can be drawn into the interior of the battery block 102. Furthermore, an underside of the battery housing 122 is provided with a battery air discharge opening 126. The battery air discharge opening 126 and the electrical contacts 128 can be arranged next to one another on an underside of the battery housing 122 such that the air is guided past the electrical contacts 128.The battery air discharge opening 126 is positioned such that when the battery block 102 attached to the receiving device 106 is charged by means of the air conveying device 108 of the charging device 100, air is guided through the battery air supply opening 124 into the battery housing 122, through the interior of the battery housing 122, through the battery air discharge opening 126 out of the battery housing 122, through a charging air supply opening 116 of the charging device 100 into the closed air guide channel 110 of the charging device 100 and from there out of the charging device 100 through a charging air discharge opening 118. The entire air conveyance from the battery air supply opening 124 to the charging air discharge opening 118 is accomplished by the air conveying device 108, so that the battery block 102 can be free of an air conveying device and can thus be designed particularly simply.

[0063] Since the air conveying device 108 shown in Figure 1 is designed as a radial fan, the cooling air sucked into the loading device 100 essentially vertically can be redirected in a substantially horizontal direction without further measures and can thus be led out of the loading device 100 laterally.

[0064] The circumferentially closed air duct 110 inside the charging housing 104 is advantageously formed by a molded part 112 with a closed outer surface, embodied, for example, as a plastic injection-molded part. This molded part 112 accommodates the air conveying device 108 and can be easily inserted into the charging housing 104 to define the air duct 110. In a particularly simple configuration, the air duct 110 can be formed in the charging housing 104 using a single curved or bent molded part 112. A simple manufacturing configuration for the closed air duct 110 can also be made up of two molded parts 112 that can be placed on top of one another, between which the air conveying device 108 can be mounted. Thus, the air conveying device 108 can be arranged and secured inside the at least one molded part 112.As shown in Figure 1, the curved and laterally fully enclosed air duct 110 extends from a top side of the charging housing 104 to a side wall of the charging housing 104.

[0065] Also located inside the charging housing 104, but outside the closed air duct 110 and fluidically decoupled from it, is a charging electronics system 114 of the charging device 100. The charging electronics system 114 serves to control the process of charging the battery module 102 by means of the charging device 100 and to provide electrical energy to the battery module 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the charging electronics system 114 comprises a printed circuit board 158 (PCB). Electronic components 160 of the charging electronics system 114, which may be surface-mounted on the circuit board 158, are schematically shown in Figure 1. For example, such electronic components comprise passive components (e.g., resistors, capacitors, inductors) and / or active components (e.g., at least one semiconductor chip). The described charging electronics system 114 may be sensitive to dirt.It is therefore particularly advantageous that the air duct 110, which carries the possibly contaminated cooling air, is configured completely separate from and without fluid connection to the charging electronics 114. This configuration ensures that the charging electronics 114 inside the charging housing 104 are completely shielded from the air conveyed through the closed air duct 110. Furthermore, the fully enclosed air duct 110 is preferably configured to completely shield or completely seal off the entire remaining interior of the charging housing 104 from the cooling air conveyed in the cooling air path 162.

[0066] Thus, according to Figure 1, the charging device 100 is equipped with the air conveying device 108 designed as a fan and the molded part 112 designed as an insert, which forms the closed air duct 110 and keeps the air flow away from the charging electronics 114 in the electronics installation space within the charging housing 104. Advantageously, the closed air duct 110 only encloses the air conveying device 108 within the air duct 110. In contrast, the closed air duct 110 excludes the entire remaining interior of the charging housing 104, and in particular the charging electronics 114 arranged in the remaining interior of the charging housing 104, from the passage of air. In other words, the charging electronics 114 are therefore never located in the air flow, but rather in an area shaded from it.

[0067] During the charging process, the battery pack 102, in particular, heats up and is effectively cooled by the described air cooling. The charging electronics 114 of the charging device 100 heats up only moderately during charging and therefore does not require direct cooling. However, the charging electronics 114 can be cooled indirectly.

[0068] Figure 2 shows a spatial view of a charging arrangement 120 comprising a charging device 100 and a battery block 102 according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0069] Figure 2 shows, in particular, the cool ambient air 164 that is sucked in, which can flow into the battery housing 122, for example, through two lateral battery air supply openings 124. Figure 2 also shows the heated air 166 pushed out of the charging housing 104, which can exit the battery housing 122, for example, through lateral charging air discharge openings 118. Inside the battery block 102 and inside the charging device 100, the cooling air path 162 is essentially curved in a U-shape, which promotes efficient supply and discharge of air and leads to effective cooling inside the battery block 102.

[0070] Figures 3 to 7 show different views of a charging arrangement 120 comprising a charging device 100 and a battery pack 102 according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the charging device 100 from a front side, from which a user attaches a battery pack 102 to the charging device 100 for charging during operation. Figure 4 illustrates the charging device 100 in a further perspective view from a rear side, which faces away from a user during handling. Figure 5 shows an underside of the charging device 100. Figure 6 illustrates an upper shell of a charging housing 104 of the charging device 100 after removal of a bottom part of the charging housing 104. Figure 7 is a perspective side view of the charging device 100 and the battery pack 102 mounted thereon.

[0071] Figure 3 shows details of the receiving device 106 for positively receiving the battery pack 102, forming an electrically conductive connection between the electrical contacts 128, 156. For example, the electrical contacts 156 of the receiving device 106 can be designed as electrical spring contacts, past which air flows through the charging air supply openings 116. For example, four or five electrical contacts 156 can be provided. Optical display devices 168, which can be formed, for example, by light-emitting diodes, can indicate a state of the charging device 100 and a charging state. Stand feet 170 can be attached to the bottom of the charging housing 104. For example, four stand feet 170 can be provided, two of which can be equipped with anti-slip protection (for example, a rubber element).

[0072] Figure 4 shows that a cable 152 for supplying the charging device 100 with electrical energy from a power grid can be led out of the charging housing 104. A notch 172 on a top side of the charging housing 104 serves to positively accommodate the battery pack 102 without locking it to the charging device 100.

[0073] Figure 5 shows provisions 173 for optional wall mounting of the charging device 100. Furthermore, Figure 5 shows a V-shaped recess 174 in the bottom, which serves to guide a cable.

[0074] Figure 6 shows a view from below into the upper shell of the charging device 100, showing the closed air duct 110. It is particularly advantageous that the air duct 110 is completely separated and sealed off from the interior of the charging device 100, in particular from the charging electronics 114 not shown in Figure 6. Clearly, air can flow perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 6 and be blown out laterally by means of the air conveying device 108 designed as a radial fan, as shown in Figure 6. The air conveying device 108 mounted in the closed air duct 110 can be attached using two screw fasteners 176.

[0075] Figure 7 again shows the cooling air path 162, along which fresh, cold ambient air 164 is converted into heated air 166, i.e., heated exhaust air. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a battery pack 102 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0076] The battery pack 102 shown in Figure 8 is advantageously provided with a dirt collection pocket 150 in the battery housing 122. If potentially contaminated ambient air, drawn in by the air conveying device 108 (not shown in Figure 8) of a corresponding charging device 100, flows into the battery housing 122 through the at least one battery air supply opening 124, the air is deflected at the dirt collection pocket 150 (in particular from a substantially horizontal flow direction into a substantially vertical flow direction and back again into a substantially horizontal flow direction). Thus, the battery pack 102 has an air deflection labyrinth 182 in the form of wall sections on the inside of the housing for deflecting the air to promote the separation of dirt at the dirt collection pocket 150. Such a labyrinth system on the air inlet side allows dirt to be separated from the air and collected in the dirt collection bag 150.The at least partially purified air then flows through the interior of the battery housing 122 and cools the components arranged there. By arranging the dirt collection pocket 150 directly adjacent to the battery air supply opening 124, dirt carried into the battery housing 122 with the air can be separated early, thereby preventing excessive contamination inside the battery housing 122. Thus, when the air is passed through the battery block 102, dirt carried into the battery housing 122 with the air can be collected in the dirt collection pocket 150 in the battery housing 122 and emptied by a user.

[0077] As shown in Figure 8, the cooling air can be passed between the battery cells 154 and a printed circuit board 180, on which electronic components can be mounted (not shown). This allows the battery cells 154 and the battery electronics to be cooled. It should also be noted that "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference symbols in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

Claims

P a t e n t a n s p r ü c h e 1. A charging device (100) for charging a battery pack (102) for a handheld device, the charging device (100) comprising: a charging housing (104); a receiving device (106) provided on the charging housing (104) for receiving the battery pack (102) for charging; an air conveying device (108) in and / or on the charging housing (104) for conveying air; and a closed air duct (110) extending from the receiving device (106) through an interior of the charging housing (104), such that air can be guided through the battery pack (102) and / or past the battery pack (102) and through the interior of the air duct (110) by means of the air conveying device (108);wherein the air guide channel (110) is formed in the charging housing (104) by means of a single molded part (112) or by means of exactly two molded parts (112), wherein the charging device (100) has at least one molded part (112) with a closed outer surface in the charging housing (104), which delimits the air guide channel (110); wherein the air conveying device (108) is arranged in the interior of the at least one molded part (112).

2. Loading device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the air conveying device (108) is designed to suck in air and to expel the sucked in air.

3. Loading device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air conveying device (108) comprises a radial fan.

4. Charging device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air guide channel (110) extends from a main surface, for example a battery receiving surface or a top side, of the charging housing (104) to a side wall of the charging housing (104).

5. Charging device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising charging electronics (114) in the charging housing (104).

6. Charging device (100) according to claim 5, wherein the air guide channel (110) is designed to completely shield the charging electronics (114) from the conveyed air.

7. Charging device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the air guide channel (110) is designed to completely shield an interior of the charging housing (104) from the conveyed air.

8. Charging device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the charging housing (104) has at least one charging air supply opening (116) and at least one charging air discharge opening (118) and is designed such that, by means of the air conveying device (108), air from the battery block (102) and / or on the battery block (102) can be guided through the at least one charging air supply opening (116) into the air guide channel (110), through the interior of the air guide channel (110) and out of the air guide channel (110) through the at least one charging air discharge opening (118).

9. Charging device (100) according to claim 8, wherein the at least one charging air supply opening (116) is arranged on a main surface, for example a battery receiving surface or a top side, of the charging housing (104) and the at least one charging air discharge opening (118) is arranged on a side wall of the charging housing (104).

10. Charging device (100) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the charging housing (104) has no further opening apart from the at least one charging air supply opening (116) and the at least one charging air discharge opening (118).

11. Charging device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the closed air guide channel (110) encloses the air conveying device (108) in the interior of the air guide channel (110) and excludes an entire remaining interior of the charging housing (104), in particular charging electronics (114) arranged in the remaining interior of the charging housing (104), from the passage of the air.

12. A charging arrangement (120), comprising: a battery pack (102) for a handheld device; and a charging device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11 for charging the battery pack (102) when the battery pack (102) is received on the receiving device (106), wherein air can be guided through the battery pack (102) and / or past the battery pack (102) and through the interior of the air guide channel (110) by means of the air conveying device (108).

13. Charging arrangement (120) according to claim 12, wherein the battery block (102) has a battery housing (122) with at least one battery air supply opening (124) and with at least one battery air discharge opening (126) and is designed such that by means of the air conveying device (108) air can be guided through the at least one battery air supply opening (124) into the battery housing (122), through the interior of the battery housing (122) and through the at least one battery air discharge opening (126) out of the battery housing (122) and into the charging device (100).

14. Charging arrangement (120) according to claim 13, wherein the at least one battery air supply opening (124) is arranged on a side wall of the battery housing (122) and the at least one battery air discharge opening (126) is arranged on a main surface, for example a charging side or a bottom side, of the battery housing (122).

15. Charging arrangement (120) according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the battery block (102) has a closed battery housing (122) and is designed such that air is guided at least partially past the battery block (102) by means of the air conveying device (108).

16. A method for charging a battery pack (102) for a handheld device by means of a charging device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11, the method comprising: Receiving the battery pack (102) for charging on a receiving device (106) of the charging device (100) provided on a charging housing (104); and Conveying air by means of an air conveying device (108) of the charging device (100) in and / or on the charging housing (104) along a fully enclosed air guide channel (110) which extends from the receiving device (106) through an interior of the charging housing (104), so that by means of the air conveying device (108) air is guided through the battery block (102) and / or past the battery block (102) and through the interior of the air guide channel (110).

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein when the air is passed through the battery block (102), dirt carried into the battery housing (122) with the air is collected in a dirt collection pocket (150) in the battery housing (122).

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