Power Tool Battery Terminal Sockets for Shock Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power tool battery connections are not effective in maintaining electronic connectivity under environmental stress and operational shock impacts, leading to potential disconnection and power disruption, and are prone to accidental shorting.
Innovation Solution
The battery features female terminals that grippingly engage corresponding male tool contacts, with a resilient stopper structure and latches to maintain the connection, and the terminals are housed within a battery housing to prevent accidental contact, ensuring the connection withstands operational shocks and environmental stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional battery contacts are exposed and directly connected to tool contacts, then electronic connection is established, but the connection is not effective in maintaining connectivity under environmental stress and operational shock impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements terminal sockets that receive and protect the battery contacts, nesting the contact mechanism within a protective housing structure. The terminal sockets are recessed into the battery housing, creating a nested arrangement where the electrical contacts are housed within protective cavities, shielding them from environmental stress and shock impacts while maintaining electrical connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates resilient stopper structures and latch mechanisms that provide cushioning and reinforcement before shock impacts occur. The resilient stoppers are positioned to absorb and distribute impact forces, while the latches pre-position the battery to ensure optimal contact alignment, cushioning the connection against forthcoming environmental stress and shock.
2Ease of operation
If battery terminals are exposed for connection, then electronic connection is established, but accidental shorting between terminals may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal sockets are recessed into the battery housing, creating a nested structure where the electrical terminals are housed within protective cavities. This nesting arrangement provides access to the terminals through controlled openings while shielding them from accidental contact with external conductive objects, preventing shorting while maintaining ease of connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the vulnerable terminal exposure function and replaces it with protected terminal sockets. The terminals are taken out from direct exposure and placed within recessed sockets that provide controlled access, separating the connection function from the vulnerable exposed contact configuration.
3Reliability
If battery contacts are spaced apart to prevent shorting, then accidental connection is prevented, but connection reliability under shock impact deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal sockets are nested within the battery housing structure, allowing contacts to be positioned close together for reliable connection while the housing structure maintains proper spacing and prevents shorting. The nested arrangement enables both close proximity for stability and sufficient separation for safety through the protective housing geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal sockets act as intermediary structures between the battery contacts and the external environment. These sockets mediate the spacing requirement by providing a controlled interface that maintains proper distance between terminals while enabling reliable electrical connection, resolving the conflict between proximity and separation through the intermediary housing structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery for use with, and electronically connected to a power tool having at least one electronic tool contact. The battery includes a battery housing, at least one battery cell disposed in the battery housing, and at least one terminal socket disposed within the battery housing, wherein each terminal socket includes at least one terminal for grippingly engaging an associated one of the at least one tool contact.