Battery Pack Connection Segmentation for Size Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Standardized slide rails on battery packs are too large for small packs, making it difficult to reduce their size while maintaining compatibility with various electric tools.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a main connection section for universal compatibility and an auxiliary connection section for specific tools, allowing the battery pack to be supported at two points, thereby reducing its size and weight distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If standardized slide rails are used on battery packs for compatibility with multiple electric tools, then adaptability is improved, but the size of the battery pack increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with electric toolsVSAvoidbattery pack size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The connection structure is divided into two separate sections: a main connection section with slide rails for compatibility with multiple electric tool types, and an auxiliary connection section with engagement protrusions for specific electric tools. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently, enabling the battery pack to maintain adaptability while reducing overall size by only including necessary connection elements for each tool type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the battery pack size is reduced for small battery packs, then volume is improved, but compatibility with standardized slide rails deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery pack sizeVSAvoidcompatibility with standardized slide rails
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the connection structure into main and auxiliary sections, small battery packs can include only the main connection section with standardized slide rails for universal compatibility, or add the auxiliary connection section when specific tool compatibility is needed. This allows small battery packs to maintain compatibility without being forced to include unnecessarily large connection structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The main connection section with standardized slide rails provides universal compatibility across multiple electric tool types. This universal interface ensures that small battery packs can be used with various tools while maintaining a compact design, as the standardized connection section is optimized for multi-purpose use rather than being oversized for specific applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If a single connection section is used for all battery packs, then device complexity is reduced, but weight distribution efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection structure complexityVSAvoidweight distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The connection structure is segmented into a main connection section that supports the majority of the battery pack weight and an auxiliary connection section that provides additional support for specific applications. This segmentation enables optimized weight distribution where the main connection section is designed to handle primary loading while the auxiliary section provides supplemental support, improving overall weight distribution efficiency without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2665109B1Battery packs and systems including battery packs and electric apparatus
Publication Date: 2017.07.12 MAKITA CORP
  • EP2665109B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2665109B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2665109B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A battery pack (30, 50; 60) may have a main connection section (35) and an auxiliary connection section (37; 67). The main connection section (35) may be connectable with a plurality of electric apparatuses (10, 40, 40A) including a specific kind of electric apparatus (10, 40A) and a non-specific kind of electric apparatus (40). The auxiliary connection section (37; 67) may be connectable with only the specific kind of electric apparatus (10, 40A).