Battery Pack Vertical Arrangement Thin Grip Power Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs for cordless power tools either compromise on grip thickness or tool size, making them either difficult to hold or bulky, due to the arrangement of battery cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design where one battery cell is vertically arranged and two are horizontally arranged in an L shape, with a circuit board positioned above the horizontal cells, allowing for a compact size and easy grip, and using lithium-ion cells to optimize the arrangement for better balance and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If three battery cells are horizontally arranged with the case protruding from the bottom of the grip portion, then the grip portion can be made thin, but the vertical size of the power tool becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional horizontal arrangement of battery cells to a vertical arrangement, changing the spatial dimension of battery cell placement. This dimensional change allows the battery pack to fit within the grip portion's vertical space, simultaneously achieving a thin grip portion and a compact overall tool size.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack is nested within the grip portion's internal space, with the battery case vertically arranged to fit inside the grip portion rather than protruding from it. This nesting approach maximizes space utilization and achieves both thin grip profile and compact tool dimensions.
2Length of stationary object
If three battery cells are vertically arranged in the grip portion, then the overall size of the power tool can be made compact, but the grip portion becomes thick
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by strategically positioning only one battery cell vertically while arranging the other two battery cells horizontally adjacent to it. This localized vertical arrangement provides sufficient height for battery capacity while maintaining a thin grip portion profile, resolving the contradiction between compact size and thin grip.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery cells are arranged in an asymmetric configuration rather than uniform vertical stacking. One battery cell is positioned vertically while the other two are arranged horizontally, creating an asymmetric layout that optimizes both vertical space utilization and grip portion thickness, achieving compact overall size without excessive grip thickness.
3Quantity of substance
If the battery pack is designed to protrude from the grip portion, then battery capacity can be increased, but the power tool becomes bulky and difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement of battery cells from horizontal protrusion to vertical arrangement within the grip portion. This dimensional change allows increased battery capacity through vertical stacking while maintaining a compact tool profile that is easy to handle, eliminating the need for protruding battery packs.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack design adapts to the grip portion's internal space constraints by dynamically arranging battery cells in a compact vertical configuration. This dynamic spatial optimization enables sufficient battery capacity while maintaining ergonomic handleability, resolving the contradiction between capacity and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack for use with a battery-driven power tool includes three battery cells in which two out of three are arranged horizontally in parallel to and in alignment with each other in a lower case and the remaining one battery cell is vertically arranged in an upper case. The upper case of the battery pack is inserted, in use, into a battery pack receiving space formed in the grip portion of a power tool. Therefore, the grip portion can be made thin and usability of the power tool is enhanced.