Electrical device

Abstract

To provide an electrical device capable of stabilizing an electrical connection with a counterpart device to be attached.SOLUTION: A terminal cover 105 of a battery pack has a first holding portion 131 including a first gap 133 having a width smaller than a thickness of a mating terminal. When two mating terminals are separately connected to a battery first discharging positive electrode terminal 123 and a battery second discharging positive electrode terminal 124, the first sandwiching portion 131 separates the two mating terminals. When the mating terminal is in contact with and electrically connected to the battery first discharge positive electrode terminal 123 and the battery second discharge positive electrode terminal 124, the first holding portion 131 elastically deforms so as to be inserted into the first gap 133 and spread, and is configured to be capable of elastically holding the mating terminal in the first gap 133 from a left-right direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical device such as a battery pack. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a battery pack in which a cover is provided between the battery pack's circuit board and a case opening, preventing foreign matter from entering the circuit board through the case opening. Patent Document 2 discloses a battery pack in which a circuit board cover is provided around the terminals of the battery pack, and part of the circuit board cover is positioned between the terminals to prevent unintended contact between the terminals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-066141 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2018 / 079722 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical device that can stabilize the electrical connection with the counterpart device to which it is attached. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is An electrical device that can be attached to or detached from the other device, a terminal that contacts a mating terminal of the mating device; a terminal cover provided around the terminal; Equipped with The terminal cover has a gap having a width smaller than the thickness of the mating terminal, and a clamping portion configured to be able to clamp the mating terminal in the gap, the mating terminal being in contact with the terminal. The electrical device is characterized by the above.

[0006] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for producing a semiconductor device comprising: An electrical device as a counterpart device to which the electrical device can be detached, A terminal corresponding to the mating terminal is provided. The electrical device is characterized by the above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrical device that can stabilize the electrical connection with the counterpart device to which it is attached. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack 100 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the battery pack 100. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack 100. [Figure 4] 3 is a perspective view of the main part of FIG. 2 in a state where the terminal cover 105 is attached to the battery board 111. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the battery terminal 104 and the terminal cover 105 in FIG. 4 . [Figure 6] The same front view. [Figure 7] Same plan view. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the terminal cover 105, showing the vicinity of a first clamping portion 131 and a second clamping portion 132. [Figure 12] 8 is a diagram showing the vicinity of the first clamping portion 131 in FIG. 7, with a virtual counterpart terminal 175 added. FIG. [Figure 13] 10 is a diagram showing how the first clamping portion 131, which has a gap that widens toward the back, widens as the mating terminal 175 is inserted. FIG. [Figure 14] 10 is a diagram showing how a first clamping portion 181 with a fixed gap width widens as a mating terminal 175 is inserted. FIG. [Figure 15] 1A is a perspective view of an electric device 200, which is a 36V device to which a battery pack 100 can be attached, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a device terminal 204 and a device terminal holder 205 of the electric device 200. FIG. [Figure 16] 2 is a perspective view showing a terminal connection state between the battery pack 100 and the electrical device 200. FIG. [Figure 17] The same front view. [Figure 18] 3 is a perspective view of a device terminal 304 and a device terminal holder 305 of an 18V device to which the battery pack 100 can be attached. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the terminal connection state between the battery pack 100 and an 18V device. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of a battery pack according to a second embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the terminal periphery in FIG. 20. [Figure 22] 21 is a perspective view showing a terminal connection state between the battery pack of FIG. 20 and a counterpart device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (Embodiment 1) 1 to 19 relate to a first embodiment. The first embodiment relates to a battery pack 100 that can be attached to and detached from a mating device such as a work machine. The battery pack 100 is an example of an electrical device. The battery pack 100 is a voltage-switchable battery pack that can output an output voltage of, for example, 18 V or 36 V depending on the terminal structure of the mating device.

[0010] The front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions of the battery pack 100 are defined using Figure 1. The front-rear direction is an example of a first direction, and is the sliding direction when attaching or detaching the battery pack to a mating device. The up-down direction is an example of a second direction, and is the direction perpendicular to the battery board 111 shown in Figure 2. The left-right direction is an example of a third direction, and is the direction perpendicular to the front-rear and up-down directions.

[0011] The battery pack 100 includes a battery case 101 , a battery rail portion 102 , a battery latch portion 103 , a battery terminal 104 , a terminal cover 105 , a cell unit 106 , a tab 109 , a separator 110 , and a battery substrate 111 .

[0012] Battery case 101 is formed by fastening upper battery case 112 and lower battery case 113 shown in Fig. 3 together and integrating them with screws, etc. Upper battery case 112 and lower battery case 113 are made of, for example, a resin molded body.

[0013] The battery upper case 112 has a pair of left and right battery rail portions 102. When the battery pack 100 is attached to or detached from the electrical device 200 shown in FIG. 15(A), the battery rail portions 102 engage with the device rail portions 202 to guide the sliding of the battery pack 100 in the front-to-rear direction relative to the electrical device 200. The battery upper case 112 has an opening 114 for passing the battery terminals 104. A pair of left and right battery latch portions 103 are retained by the battery upper case 112 and are locking portions that lock the battery pack 100 to the electrical device 200.

[0014] The cell unit 106 includes a first cell unit 107 and a second cell unit 108. Each of the first cell unit 107 and the second cell unit 108 is formed by connecting five battery cells, such as lithium ion batteries, in series. The number of battery cells connected in series and the number of battery cells connected in parallel can be changed as desired.

[0015] The tabs 109 are conductors that electrically connect the battery cells to each other and electrically connect the first cell unit 107 and the second cell unit 108 to the battery substrate 111. The separator 110 is, for example, a resin molded body, and holds multiple battery cells aligned in a predetermined position. The battery substrate 111 is fixed to the separator 110 by screws or the like. The battery substrate 111 is equipped with a microcomputer and the like that control the battery pack 100.

[0016] The battery terminals 104 are provided upright on the battery substrate 111. As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the battery terminals 104 include a first battery charging positive terminal 121, a second battery charging positive terminal 122, a first battery discharging positive terminal 123, a second battery discharging positive terminal 124, a first battery negative terminal 125, a second battery negative terminal 126, and a battery communication terminal 127. Each terminal of the battery terminals 104 is configured as a female terminal.

[0017] The first battery charging positive terminal 121 and the second battery charging positive terminal 122 are located at the same position in the left-right direction. Similarly, the first battery discharging positive terminal 123 and the second battery discharging positive terminal 124 are located at the same position in the left-right direction. Similarly, the first battery negative terminal 125 and the second battery negative terminal 126 are located at the same position in the left-right direction.

[0018] The first battery discharge positive terminal 123 and the second battery discharge positive terminal 124 are located to the right of the first battery charging positive terminal 121 and the second battery charging positive terminal 122. Three battery communication terminals 127 are aligned in the left-right direction between the first battery discharge positive terminal 123 and the second battery discharge positive terminal 124 and the first battery negative terminal 125 and the second battery negative terminal 126. One battery communication terminal 127 is located to the right of the first battery negative terminal 125 and the second battery negative terminal 126.

[0019] The battery first charging positive electrode terminal 121 is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the first cell unit 107. The battery second charging positive electrode terminal 122 is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the second cell unit 108. The battery first charging positive electrode terminal 121 and second charging positive electrode terminal 122 are short-circuited by the positive electrode terminal of the counterpart device (charger).

[0020] The battery first discharge positive electrode terminal 123 includes a battery first positive electrode contact portion 143 (FIG. 6) that contacts the mating positive electrode terminal of a mating device such as a work machine, and is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the first cell unit 107. The mating positive electrode terminal may be the device first positive electrode terminal 223 shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, or the device positive electrode terminal 323 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

[0021] The battery second discharge positive electrode terminal 124 includes a battery second positive electrode contact portion 144 (FIG. 6) that contacts the counter positive electrode terminal of a counter device such as a work machine, and is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the second cell unit 108. The battery second positive electrode contact portion 144 is aligned with the battery first positive electrode contact portion 143 in the vertical direction. The counter positive electrode terminal may be the device second positive electrode terminal 224 shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, or the device positive electrode terminal 323 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. The device positive electrode terminal 323 straddles and contacts both the battery first positive electrode contact portion 143 and the battery second positive electrode contact portion 144 shown in FIG. 6.

[0022] The battery first negative electrode terminal 125 includes a battery first negative electrode contact portion 145 (FIG. 6) that comes into contact with the mating negative electrode terminal of a mating device such as a work machine, and is electrically connected to the negative electrode of the first cell unit 107. The mating negative electrode terminal may be the device first negative electrode terminal 225 shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, or the device negative electrode terminal 325 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

[0023] The battery second negative electrode terminal 126 includes a battery second negative electrode contact portion 146 (FIG. 6) that contacts the counter negative electrode terminal of a counter device such as a work machine, and is electrically connected to the negative electrode of the second cell unit 108. The battery second negative electrode contact portion 146 is aligned with the battery first negative electrode contact portion 145 in the vertical direction. The counter negative electrode terminal may be the device second negative electrode terminal 226 shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, or the device negative electrode terminal 325 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. The device negative electrode terminal 325 contacts both the battery first negative electrode contact portion 145 and the battery second negative electrode contact portion 146 shown in FIG. 6, straddling them. Note that when the counter device is a charger, the battery first negative electrode terminal 125 and the battery second negative electrode terminal 126 are short-circuited by the negative electrode terminal of the counter device.

[0024] The battery communication terminals 127 are electrically connected to the counterpart communication terminals. The counterpart communication terminals may be device communication terminals 227 shown in Figures 15 to 17, or device communication terminals 327 shown in Figures 18 and 19. In the illustrated example, there are four battery communication terminals 127, but the number of battery communication terminals 127 can be changed as desired.

[0025] The terminal cover 105 is, for example, a resin molded body, and is fixed to the battery substrate 111 by, for example, adhesive or the like, and is held by the battery substrate 111, and is provided around the battery terminals 104. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 8 to 10, etc., the terminal cover 105 has a cover portion 115, legs 116, a protrusion 117, a first clamping portion 131 (positive electrode clamping portion), a second clamping portion 132 (negative electrode clamping portion), a first deformation suppressing portion 151, a second deformation suppressing portion 152, wall portions 153 to 161, and terminal slots 171 and 172.

[0026] The cover portion 115 is a flat portion perpendicular to the up-down direction and covers the opening 114 of the upper battery case 112 shown in FIG. 3. The legs 116 extend downward from the front of the cover portion 115 and contact the upper surface of the battery board 111. In the example shown, five legs 116 are provided in the left-right direction, but the number of legs 116 can be changed as desired. The protrusions 117 extend downward from the ends of the legs 116 located on both the left and right ends and engage with both left and right edges of the battery board 111 as shown in FIG. 4. This determines the left-right position of the terminal cover 105 relative to the battery board 111.

[0027] The walls 153 to 161 are each plate-shaped parts perpendicular to the left-right direction and connected to the rear part of the cover part 115. The walls 153 to 161 are erected on the sides of each terminal constituting the battery terminal 104 and separate the terminals lined up in the left-right direction. The lower ends of the walls 153 to 161 come into contact with the battery board 111 and also function as legs.

[0028] 5 to 8, 12, etc., the first clamping portion 131 includes a first gap 133 having a width smaller than the thickness of the device first positive terminal 223 and the device second positive terminal 224 (FIGS. 15 to 17) and the device positive terminal 323 (FIGS. 18 and 19) serving as counter positive terminals (counter terminals). Note that a counter terminal 175 indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 12 corresponds to any one of the device first positive terminal 223, the device second positive terminal 224, and the device positive terminal 323.

[0029] 6, the first clamping portion 131 is located between the battery first positive electrode contact portion 143 and the battery second positive electrode contact portion 144 in the up-down direction. As shown in Fig. 7, the first clamping portion 131 extends forward from wall portions 154, 155 on the left and right sides of the battery first discharge positive electrode terminal 123 and the battery second discharge positive electrode terminal 124.

[0030] When the device first positive electrode terminal 223 is electrically connected to the battery first discharge positive electrode terminal 123 and the device second positive electrode terminal 224 is electrically connected to the battery second discharge positive electrode terminal 124 (when the device first positive electrode terminal 223 contacts the battery first positive electrode contact portion 143 shown in FIG. 6 and the device second positive electrode terminal 224 contacts the battery second positive electrode contact portion 144 shown in FIG. 6), the first clamping portion 131 separates the device first positive electrode terminal 223 and the device second positive electrode terminal 224 in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 17 .

[0031] When the counterpart positive electrode terminal electrically connected to the battery first discharge positive electrode terminal 123 and the battery second discharge positive electrode terminal 124 is the device positive electrode terminal 323 (FIGS. 18 and 19) (when the device positive electrode terminal 323 is in contact with both the battery first positive electrode contact portion 143 and the battery second positive electrode contact portion 144 shown in FIG. 6 across each other), the first clamping portion 131 is configured to insert the device positive electrode terminal 323 into the first gap 133 and elastically deform to expand, so that the device positive electrode terminal 323 can be elastically clamped in the left-right direction by the first gap 133 (FIG. 6) as shown in FIG. 19.

[0032] 11, the first clamping portion 131 has a first chamfered portion 135 on the entrance side of the first gap 133. The first chamfered portion 135 makes the entrance width W1 of the first gap 133 larger than the thickness of the device positive terminal 323 (FIGS. 18 and 19) to be inserted into the first gap 133.

[0033] As shown in Figures 5 to 8, etc., the second clamping portion 132 includes a second gap 134 having a width smaller than the thickness of the device first negative electrode terminal 225 and the device second negative electrode terminal 226 (Figures 15 to 17) and the device negative electrode terminal 325 (Figures 18 and 19) as counterpart negative electrode terminals (counter terminals).

[0034] 6, the second clamping portion 132 is located between the battery first negative electrode contact portion 145 and the battery second negative electrode contact portion 146 in the up-down direction. As shown in Fig. 7, the second clamping portion 132 extends forward from wall portions 159, 160 on the left and right sides of the battery first negative electrode terminal 125 and the battery second negative electrode terminal 126.

[0035] When the device first negative electrode terminal 225 is electrically connected to the battery first negative electrode terminal 125 and the device second negative electrode terminal 226 is electrically connected to the battery second negative electrode terminal 126 (when the device first negative electrode terminal 225 contacts the battery first negative electrode contact portion 145 shown in Figure 6 and the device second negative electrode terminal 226 contacts the battery second negative electrode contact portion 146 shown in Figure 6), the second clamping portion 132 separates the device first negative electrode terminal 225 and the device second negative electrode terminal 226 in the vertical direction, as shown in Figure 17.

[0036] When the counterpart negative electrode terminal electrically connected to the battery first negative electrode terminal 125 and the battery second negative electrode terminal 126 is the device negative electrode terminal 325 (when the device negative electrode terminal 325 contacts both the battery first negative electrode contact portion 145 and the battery second negative electrode contact portion 146 shown in Figure 6 across), the second clamping portion 132 is configured to elastically deform so that the device negative electrode terminal 325 is inserted into the second gap 134 and expands, so that the device negative electrode terminal 325 can be elastically clamped in the left and right directions by the second gap 134 (Figure 6) as shown in Figure 19.

[0037] 11, the second clamping portion 132 has a second chamfered portion 136 on the entrance side of the second gap 134. The second chamfered portion 136 makes the entrance width W1 of the second gap 134 larger than the thickness of the device negative electrode terminal 325 (FIGS. 18 and 19) to be inserted into the second gap 134.

[0038] The first deformation suppression portion 151 shown in Figures 7, 8, 10, etc. is provided for the purpose of strengthening the rigidity of the first clamping portion 131 and suppresses deformation of the first clamping portion 131 when the device positive terminal 323 is inserted into the first gap 133 as shown in Figure 19. The first deformation suppression portion 151 connects the terminal slots 171 (Figure 8) of the terminal cover 105 in the left-right direction. The terminal slots 171 are adjacent to the left of the first clamping portion 131, and the first battery charging positive terminal 121 and the second battery charging positive terminal 122 are located within the terminal slots 171. Note that a configuration equivalent to the first deformation suppression portion 151 may be added to the right of the first clamping portion 131.

[0039] The second deformation suppression portion 152 shown in Figures 7, 8, 10, etc. is provided for the purpose of strengthening the rigidity of the second clamping portion 132, and suppresses deformation of the second clamping portion 132 when the device negative terminal 325 is inserted into the second gap 134 as shown in Figure 19. The second deformation suppression portion 152 connects the terminal slots 172 (Figure 8) of the terminal cover 105 in the left-right direction. The terminal slot 172 is adjacent to the right of the second clamping portion 132, and the battery communication terminal 127 is located within the terminal slot 172. Note that a configuration equivalent to the second deformation suppression portion 152 may be added to the left of the second clamping portion 132.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 11 , the first gap 133 has a portion whose width increases from the entrance side toward the rear side. Specifically, the width W3 of the rear end of the first gap 133 is greater than the width W2 of the entrance end of the first gap 133 excluding the first chamfered portion 135. The width of the first gap 133 continuously increases from the entrance end to the rear end of the first gap 133. The left inner surface of the first gap 133 is parallel to the up-down direction and inclined to be positioned further leftward toward the rear with respect to a plane perpendicular to the left-right direction. The right inner surface of the first gap 133 is parallel to the up-down direction and inclined to be positioned further rightward toward the rear with respect to a plane perpendicular to the left-right direction.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 11 , the second gap 134 has a portion whose width increases from the entrance side toward the rear side. Specifically, the width W3 of the rear end of the second gap 134 is greater than the width W2 of the entrance end of the second gap 134 excluding the second chamfered portion 136. The width of the second gap 134 continuously increases from the entrance end to the rear end of the second gap 134. The left inner surface of the second gap 134 is parallel to the up-down direction and inclined so as to be positioned leftward as it approaches the rear with respect to a plane perpendicular to the left-right direction. The right inner surface of the second gap 134 is parallel to the up-down direction and inclined so as to be positioned rightward as it approaches the rear with respect to a plane perpendicular to the left-right direction.

[0042] In FIG. 11, the first gap 133 and the second gap 134 have the same width, depth, and extent toward the rear, but they may be different.

[0043] 13 is a diagram showing how first clamping portion 131, which has a gap width that widens toward the back, widens due to insertion of mating terminal 175. In the case of a configuration in which the gap width widens toward the back, the amount of widening of first gap 133 on the entrance side when mating terminal 175 is inserted (the difference between W4 and W1 in FIG. 13) is suppressed. Therefore, first clamping portion 131 is less likely to be plastically deformed due to excessive widening of first gap 133.

[0044] 14 is a diagram showing how first clamping portion 181, which has a constant gap width, widens due to the insertion of mating terminal 175. When the gap width is constant at W6 (for example, an intermediate value between W2 and W3), the amount of widening of the entrance side of first gap 183 when mating terminal 175 is inserted (the difference between W8 and W7 in FIG. 14) increases. Note that the widening of first gap 183 is exaggerated in FIG. 14 for ease of understanding.

[0045] Fig. 15(A) is a perspective view of an electric device 200, which is a 36V device to which a battery pack 100 can be attached. Fig. 15(B) is a perspective view of an electric device terminal 204 and an electric device terminal holder 205 of the electric device 200. Figs. 16 and 17 show the terminal connection state of the battery pack 100 and the electric device 200.

[0046] The electrical device 200 is an example of a mating device. The electrical device 200 has a housing 201, an electrical device rail portion 202, an electrical device terminal 204, and an electrical device terminal holder 205. The lower end of the housing 201 serves as a battery pack mounting portion. The electrical device rail portion 202 engages with the battery rail portion 102 of the battery pack 100.

[0047] The device terminal 204 is held by a device terminal holder 205. The device terminal 204 has a first device positive terminal 223, a second device positive terminal 224, a first device negative terminal 225, a second device negative terminal 226, and a device communication terminal 227. Each terminal of the device terminal 204 is configured as a male terminal.

[0048] As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the device first positive terminal 223 is in contact with and electrically connected to the battery first discharge positive terminal 123. The device second positive terminal 224 is in contact with and electrically connected to the battery second discharge positive terminal 124. The device first negative terminal 225 is in contact with and electrically connected to the battery first negative terminal 125. The device second negative terminal 226 is in contact with and electrically connected to the battery second negative terminal 126. The device communication terminal 227 is in contact with and electrically connected to the battery communication terminal 127.

[0049] The device second positive electrode terminal 224 and the device first negative electrode terminal 225 are shorted to each other by a shorting means (short bar) not shown. As a result, the battery second discharge positive electrode terminal 124 and the battery first negative electrode terminal 125 are shorted, and the positive electrode of the second cell unit 108 and the negative electrode of the first cell unit 107 are shorted. Therefore, the battery pack 100 attached to the electric device 200 outputs a series combined voltage of the first cell unit 107 and the second cell unit 108, for example, 36 V. In other words, the electric device 200 receives, for example, 36 V from the battery pack 100.

[0050] Fig. 18 is a perspective view of device terminal 304 and device terminal holder 305 of an 18V device to which battery pack 100 can be attached. Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing the terminal connection state between battery pack 100 and 18V device.

[0051] The 18V device is an example of a mating device. The device terminal 304 is held by a device terminal holder 305. The device terminal 304 has a device positive terminal 323, a device negative terminal 325, and a device communication terminal 327. Each terminal of the device terminal 304 is configured as a male terminal.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 19 , the device positive terminal 323 straddles and contacts the battery first discharge positive terminal 123 and the battery second discharge positive terminal 124 to be electrically connected, and is clamped by the first clamping portion 131 shown in Fig. 8 etc. The device negative terminal 325 straddles and contacts and electrically connects the battery first negative terminal 125 and the battery second negative terminal 126 to be clamped by the second clamping portion 132 shown in Fig. 8 etc. The device communication terminal 327 contacts and is electrically connected to the battery communication terminal 127.

[0053] This embodiment has the following advantages.

[0054] (1) The terminal cover 105 of the battery pack 100 has a first clamping portion 131 including a first gap 133 whose width is smaller than the thickness of the device first positive terminal 223 and the device second positive terminal 224 (FIGS. 15 to 17) and the device positive terminal 323 (FIGS. 18 and 19). When the device first positive terminal 223 contacts and is electrically connected to the battery first discharge positive terminal 123 and the device second positive terminal 224 contacts and is electrically connected to the battery second discharge positive terminal 124, the first clamping portion 131 separates the device first positive terminal 223 from the device second positive terminal 224 in the up-down direction, as shown in FIG. This reduces the risk of unintentional short-circuiting between the first battery discharge positive terminal 123 and the second battery discharge positive terminal 124 due to misalignment caused by vibration or the like, which could occur when the first device positive terminal 223 or the second device positive terminal 224 comes into contact with both the first battery discharge positive terminal 123 and the second battery discharge positive terminal 124, thereby stabilizing the electrical connection with the counterpart device to which the device is attached. Furthermore, when the device positive terminal 323 (FIGS. 18 and 19) comes into contact with the first battery discharge positive terminal 123 and the second battery discharge positive terminal 124 to be electrically connected, the first clamping portion 131 is configured to elastically deform so that the device positive terminal 323 is inserted into the first gap 133 and expands, thereby enabling the device positive terminal 323 to be elastically clamped in the left-right direction by the first gap 133 (FIG. 6) as shown in FIG. This stably holds the device positive terminal 323, preventing the electrical connection between the battery's first discharge positive terminal 123 and second discharge positive terminal 124 and the device positive terminal 323 from becoming unstable due to vibration or the like, thereby enabling a stable electrical connection with the mating device to which the battery pack 100 is attached. The first clamping portion 131 functions to separate the device's first positive terminal 223 and second positive terminal 224 (FIGS. 15 to 17) while allowing the device positive terminal 323 (FIGS. 18 and 19) to be inserted into the first gap 133, making it suitable for both the mating device's terminal structure shown in FIG. 15(B) and the terminal structure shown in FIG. 18. In other words, the battery pack 100 can be attached and used in both 36V and 18V devices. The second clamping portion 132 also provides the same effects as the first clamping portion 131.

[0055] (2) The first clamping portion 131 has a first chamfered portion 135 on the entrance side of the first gap 133, and the entrance width of the first gap 133 is larger than the thickness of the device positive terminal 323 (FIGS. 18 and 19). This allows the device positive terminal 323 to be smoothly inserted into the first gap 133, improving the workability of attaching and detaching the battery pack 100 to and from the mating device. The same is true for the second clamping portion 132.

[0056] (3) The first gap 133 has a portion whose width increases from the entrance side toward the back side. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the gap width is constant as shown in Fig. 14 , the risk of damage or plastic deformation of the first clamping portion 131 due to excessive widening of the first gap 133 is reduced. In addition, the operating load when inserting the device positive terminal 323 into the first gap 133 is reduced. The same applies to the second clamping portion 132.

[0057] (4) The terminal cover 105 has a first deformation suppression portion 151 that suppresses deformation of the first clamping portion 131 when the device positive terminal 323 is inserted into the first gap 133. This reduces the risk of breakage or plastic deformation due to excessive deformation of the first clamping portion 131. The second deformation suppression portion 152 also achieves the same effect as the first deformation suppression portion 151.

[0058] (Embodiment 2) 20 to 22 relate to embodiment 2. The following description will focus on differences from embodiment 1. The battery pack of this embodiment is a fixed voltage battery pack with an output voltage fixed at, for example, 18 V, and includes a single cell unit 406. A battery charging positive terminal 421, a battery discharging positive terminal 423, a battery negative terminal 425, and a battery communication terminal 427 are provided on a battery substrate 411.

[0059] 22, the battery discharge positive terminal 423 contacts and is electrically connected to the device positive terminal 523 of the counterpart device. The battery negative terminal 425 contacts and is electrically connected to the device negative terminal 525 of the counterpart device. The battery communication terminal 427 contacts and is electrically connected to the device communication terminal 527 of the counterpart device.

[0060] 21, the terminal cover 405 includes a first clamping portion 431 (positive electrode clamping portion) and a second clamping portion 432 (negative electrode clamping portion). The first clamping portion 431 and the second clamping portion 432 are configured similarly to the first clamping portion 131 and the second clamping portion 132 of the first embodiment. The first clamping portion 431 clamps an equipment positive electrode terminal 523 that contacts a battery discharge positive electrode terminal 423, as shown in FIG. 22. The second clamping portion 432 clamps an equipment negative electrode terminal 525 that contacts a battery negative electrode terminal 425.

[0061] In this embodiment, too, the first clamping portion 431 and the second clamping portion 432 clamp the device positive terminal 523 and the device negative terminal 525, respectively, and as in the first embodiment, the electrical connection between the battery discharge positive terminal 423 and the device positive terminal 523 and the electrical connection between the battery negative terminal 425 and the device negative terminal 525 are prevented from becoming unstable due to vibrations or the like, thereby making it possible to stabilize the electrical connection with the counterpart device to which the device is attached.

[0062] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments as examples, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Various modifications can be made to the details specifically described in the embodiments within the scope of the claims.

[0063] The combination structure of the terminals and terminal cover of the battery pack exemplified in the embodiment may be applied to an adapter that can be attached to an electrical device instead of a battery pack. The adapter acts as a relay between an external power source and an electrical device, or intervenes between an electrical device and a battery pack that cannot be directly attached to the electrical device. The adapter is also an example of an electrical device.

[0064] The male-female relationship between the battery terminals and the device terminals illustrated in the embodiment may be reversed, and components corresponding to the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion may be provided on the device terminal holder. In this case, the battery pack corresponds to the mating device, and the work machine corresponds to the electrical device.

[0065] The mating terminal that is clamped by the clamping portion of the present invention is not limited to a positive terminal or a negative terminal, but may also be a communication terminal.

[0066] The voltage values, number of terminals, number of battery cells included in a cell unit, etc., given as specific numerical values ​​in the embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention in any way and can be changed as desired to suit the required specifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 100... battery pack, 101... battery case, 102... battery rail portion, 103... battery latch portion, 104... battery terminal, 105... terminal cover, 106... cell unit, 107... first cell unit, 108... second cell unit, 109... tab, 110... separator, 111... battery board, 112... upper battery case, 113... lower battery case, 114... opening, 115... cover portion, 116... leg portion, 117... protrusion portion, 121... first battery charging positive terminal, 122... second battery charging positive terminal electrode terminal, 123...battery first discharge positive electrode terminal, 124...battery second discharge positive electrode terminal, 125...battery first negative electrode terminal, 126...battery second negative electrode terminal, 127...battery communication terminal, 131...first clamping portion (positive electrode clamping portion), 132...second clamping portion (negative electrode clamping portion), 133...first gap, 134...second gap, 135...first chamfered portion, 136...second chamfered portion, 143...battery first positive electrode contact portion, 144...battery second positive electrode contact portion, 145...battery first negative electrode contact portion, 146...battery second negative electrode contact portion, 15 1...first deformation suppression portion, 152...second deformation suppression portion, 153 to 161...wall portion, 171, 172...terminal slot, 175...mating terminal, 181...first clamping portion (positive electrode clamping portion), 183...first gap, 185...first chamfered portion, 200...electrical device, 201...housing, 202...device rail portion, 204...device terminal, 205...device terminal holder, 223...device first positive electrode terminal, 224...device second positive electrode terminal, 225...device first negative electrode terminal, 226...device second negative electrode terminal, 227...device communication Communication terminal, 304...Equipment terminal, 305...Equipment terminal holder, 323...Equipment positive terminal, 325...Equipment negative terminal, 327...Equipment communication terminal, 405...Terminal cover, 406...Cell unit, 411...Battery board, 421...Battery charging positive terminal, 423...Battery discharge positive terminal, 425...Battery negative terminal, 427...Battery communication terminal, 431...First clamping part (positive electrode clamping part), 432...Second clamping part (negative pole clamping part), 523...Device positive terminal, 525...Device negative terminal, 527...Device communication terminal.

Claims

1. An electrical device that can be attached to or detached from the other device, a terminal that contacts a mating terminal of the mating device; a terminal cover provided around the terminal; Equipped with The terminal cover has a gap having a width smaller than the thickness of the mating terminal, and a clamping portion configured to be able to clamp the mating terminal in the gap, the mating terminal being in contact with the terminal. An electrical device characterized by:

2. 2. The electrical device according to claim 1, The device is slidable in a first direction to be attached to and detached from the counterpart device, The terminal is a first terminal having a first contact portion that comes into contact with the mating terminal; a second terminal including a second contact portion that contacts the mating terminal, the second contact portion being aligned with the first contact portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; the clamping portion is located between the first contact portion and the second contact portion and is configured to be able to clamp the mating terminal from a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, When a mating first terminal constituting the mating terminal contacts the first contact portion and a mating second terminal constituting the mating terminal contacts the second contact portion, the clamping portion separates the mating first terminal and the mating second terminal. An electrical device characterized by:

3. 2. The electrical device according to claim 1, The device is slidable in a first direction to be attached to and detached from the counterpart device, The terminal is a first terminal having a first contact portion that comes into contact with the mating terminal; a second terminal including a second contact portion that contacts the mating terminal, the second contact portion being aligned with the first contact portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; the clamping portion is located between the first contact portion and the second contact portion and is configured to be able to clamp the mating terminal from a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, When the mating terminal is a mating third terminal that comes into contact with both the first contact portion and the second contact portion while straddling the first contact portion, the clamping portion elastically deforms so as to expand when the mating third terminal is inserted into the gap. An electrical device characterized by:

4. 2. The electrical device according to claim 1, It is configured as a battery pack, a cell unit having one or more battery cells; the terminal electrically connected to the cell unit; a substrate on which the terminals are provided and which holds the terminal cover; Equipped with An electrical device characterized by:

5. 2. The electrical device according to claim 1, The clamping portion has a chamfered portion on the entrance side of the gap. An electrical device characterized by:

6. 6. The electrical device according to claim 5, The opening width of the gap is greater than the thickness of the mating terminal. An electrical device characterized by:

7. 2. The electrical device according to claim 1, The gap has a portion whose width increases from the entrance side toward the back side. An electrical device characterized by:

8. 2. The electrical device according to claim 1, The terminal cover is a wall portion erected on a side of the terminal; the clamping portion connected to an upper portion of the wall portion and extending forward; a deformation suppressing portion that suppresses deformation of the clamping portion when the mating terminal is inserted into the gap, An electrical device characterized by:

9. 9. The electrical device according to claim 8, the terminal cover has a terminal slot adjacent to the clamping portion in the left-right direction and in which a third terminal different from the terminal is positioned; The deformation suppression portion connects the terminal slots in the left-right direction. An electrical device characterized by:

10. 4. The electrical device according to claim 2 or 3, It is configured as a battery pack, a first cell unit and a second cell unit each having one or more battery cells; The first terminal is a first positive electrode terminal including a first positive electrode contact portion that contacts a counterpart positive electrode terminal of the counterpart device and that is connected to the positive electrode of the first cell unit; a first negative electrode terminal including a first negative electrode contact portion that contacts a mating negative electrode terminal of the mating device and that is connected to the negative electrode of the first cell unit; The second terminal is a second positive electrode terminal including a second positive electrode contact portion that contacts a mating positive electrode terminal of the mating device, the second positive electrode contact portion being aligned with the first positive electrode contact portion in the second direction, and connected to a positive electrode of the second cell unit; a second negative electrode terminal including a second negative electrode contact portion that contacts a mating negative electrode terminal of the mating device, the second negative electrode contact portion being aligned with the first negative electrode contact portion in the second direction, and connected to the negative electrode of the second cell unit; The clamping unit is a positive electrode clamping portion located between the first positive electrode contact portion and the second positive electrode contact portion and configured to be able to clamp the mating positive electrode terminal from the third direction; and / or a negative electrode clamping portion located between the first negative electrode contact portion and the second negative electrode contact portion and configured to be able to clamp the mating negative electrode terminal from the third direction, An electrical device characterized by:

11. 11. The electrical device according to claim 10, When a counterpart first positive electrode terminal constituting the counterpart positive electrode terminal contacts the first positive electrode contact portion and a counterpart second positive electrode terminal constituting the counterpart positive electrode terminal contacts the second positive electrode contact portion, the positive electrode clamping portion separates the counterpart first positive electrode terminal and the counterpart second positive electrode terminal, when a counterpart first negative electrode terminal constituting the counterpart negative electrode terminal contacts the first negative electrode contact portion and a counterpart second negative electrode terminal constituting the counterpart negative electrode terminal contacts the second negative electrode contact portion, the negative electrode clamping portion separates the counterpart first negative electrode terminal and the counterpart second negative electrode terminal. An electrical device characterized by:

12. 11. The electrical device according to claim 10, When a counterpart third positive electrode terminal constituting the counterpart positive electrode terminal comes into contact with both the first positive electrode contact portion and the second positive electrode contact portion while straddling the first positive electrode contact portion, the positive electrode clamping portion elastically deforms so that the counterpart third positive electrode terminal is inserted into the gap and expands, When a counterpart third negative electrode terminal constituting the counterpart negative electrode terminal comes into contact with both the first negative electrode contact portion and the second negative electrode contact portion while straddling the first negative electrode contact portion, the negative electrode clamping portion elastically deforms so that the counterpart third negative electrode terminal is inserted into the gap and expands. An electrical device characterized by:

13. An electrical device as a counterpart device to which the electrical device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 can be detachably attached, A terminal corresponding to the mating terminal is provided. An electrical device characterized by:

14. An electrical device as a counterpart device to which the electrical device according to claim 3 can be detachably attached, a terminal corresponding to the mating third terminal; An electrical device characterized by:

15. An electrical device as a counterpart device to which the electrical device according to claim 2 can be detachably attached, a terminal corresponding to the mating first terminal and a terminal corresponding to the mating second terminal; An electrical device characterized by:

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