Battery Pack Engagement Mechanism for Dust-Resistant Operation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Dust accumulation on the sliding faces of battery pack engagement mechanisms increases frictional resistance and deteriorates operability, potentially preventing detachment of the battery pack from equipment.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a slidable and rotatable engaging member with a stopper, regulated by a biasing force and a contact portion, which allows for smooth sliding or rotation to retract the stopper, reducing the need for internal sliding faces and minimizing frictional resistance during attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the battery pack uses a sliding engagement mechanism with internal sliding faces, then the attachment and detachment operation is smooth initially, but dust accumulation on the sliding faces increases frictional resistance and deteriorates operability over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sliding face from the internal structure of the battery pack and relocates it to the external surface of the mounting portion. The engaging member now slides along the external surface of the mounting portion rather than sliding internally, which eliminates the dust accumulation problem inside the battery pack while maintaining the sliding attachment/detachment operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure where the mounting portion of the electric tool serves as the sliding surface. Instead of the battery pack containing the sliding face, the mounting portion acts as the mediator that provides the sliding surface externally, thereby protecting the battery pack's internal structure from dust contamination.
2Device complexity
If the engaging member has a simple sliding structure, then the device complexity is low, but the frictional resistance increases when dust adheres to the sliding faces
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding face is extracted from the battery pack's internal structure and placed on the external surface of the mounting portion. This maintains the simplicity of the engaging member structure while eliminating the friction increase caused by dust accumulation on internal sliding surfaces.
3Reliability
If the stopper is always projected from the opening, then the battery pack is securely engaged, but the battery pack cannot be detached when engagement release is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the engaging member dynamic by enabling it to switch between sliding motion and rotational motion. The engaging member can slide to engage/disengage the stopper with the engaging portion, and rotate to control the projection/retraction of the stopper, thereby providing both secure engagement and easy detachment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a rotational degree of freedom to the engaging member beyond the simple sliding motion. By combining sliding (linear dimension) and rotation (angular dimension), the engaging member can perform multiple functions: sliding for engagement/disengagement and rotation for controlling stopper projection, thus resolving the contradiction between secure engagement and easy detachment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the operability of battery pack attachment and detachment by reducing frictional resistance and preventing accidental disengagement, ensuring reliable and safe handling.
Implementation Method 1
The engaging member is supported in a slidable and rotatable manner relative to the casing, and is applied with a biasing force such that the stopper projects from the opening
Implementation Method 2
The regulating member includes a contact portion configured to block a rotation of the engaging member
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a casing having an opening, an engaging member having a stopper, and a regulating member configured to regulate a movement of the engaging member. The engaging member is supported in a slidable and rotatable manner relative to the casing, and is applied with a biasing force such that the stopper projects from the opening. The regulating member includes a contact portion configured to block a rotation of the engaging member and an operating portion configured to displace the contact portion to release a blocking of the rotation of the engaging member. When the operating portion is a non-operated state, the engaging member is slidable against the biasing force to retract the stopper. When the operating portion is in an operated state, the engaging member is rotatable against the biasing force to retract the stopper.