Master and Slave Battery Kit for Expandable Power Tools
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power tools are limited by a single battery interface, making it difficult to increase battery pack capacity without modifying the tool's dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A master battery pack with a secondary battery connection system, allowing for removable expansion of capacity through mechanical and electrical compatibility, enabling the use of a single interface for increased capacity without altering the tool's interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the battery pack capacity is increased to extend use time and power, then the energy storage capability is improved, but the battery pack size and weight increase, making it incompatible with existing power tool interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into a master battery and a slave battery that can be used separately or combined. The master battery contains a first connector for connecting to power tools, while the slave battery contains a second connector for connecting to the master battery. This segmentation allows users to attach the slave battery to the master battery to increase capacity when needed, or use the master battery alone when size constraints apply, thus resolving the contradiction between capacity and size.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the battery pack capacity is increased by adding more battery cells, then the energy storage capability is improved, but the battery pack dimensions increase, limiting compatibility with existing power tool interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into a master battery with a first connector for power tool interfaces and a slave battery with a second connector for attachment to the master battery. The slave battery can be attached to extend the length and capacity of the master battery when needed, or removed when compact size is required, thus resolving the contradiction between capacity and length while maintaining compatibility with existing power tool interfaces.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the battery pack capacity is increased to provide extended use time, then the energy storage capability is improved, but the battery pack weight increases, reducing portability and ease of use
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is segmented into a master battery and a removable slave battery. The slave battery contains additional battery cells that increase the total capacity and use time when attached to the master battery. When extended use time is needed, users attach the slave battery to the master battery, accepting the increased weight. When portability is more important, users remove the slave battery, reducing the weight to only the master battery, thus resolving the contradiction between use time and weight.
4Device complexity
If power tools are designed with a single battery interface to maintain simplicity, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different battery capacity requirements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The master battery is designed with a first connector for connecting to power tools and a second connector for connecting to the slave battery. The slave battery contains a second connector for attaching to the master battery. This universal design allows the same master battery to function in multiple configurations: alone for standard capacity, or with the slave battery attached for extended capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between interface simplicity and capacity adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system is designed to be dynamically configurable, allowing users to attach or detach the slave battery from the master battery based on their specific needs. The mechanical connectors and electrical contacts are designed to enable easy attachment and detachment. This dynamic configuration capability allows the battery system to adapt between different capacity requirements while maintaining a simple single-interface design for the power tool connection, resolving the contradiction between interface simplicity and capacity adaptability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2a
Figure 2b~3a
Figure 3b~4
AI summary
A master battery (22) is provided, which is adapted to be connected to an external secondary battery (24). The master battery includes: a case; a battery cell located in the case; a first connector on the case, and a second connector on the base. The first connector is electrically connected to the battery cell, and the first connector includes a first positive terminal (28a) and a first negative terminal (28d). The second connector is electrically connected to the battery cell, and the second connector includes a second positive terminal (38a) and a second negative terminal (38d). The invention can greatly expand the capacity of the whole battery pack when needed by means of removably fixing the secondary battery to the master battery pack. The secondary battery can be removed from the master battery pack when a user does not need a battery pack with a large capacity or for purposes such as light weight or weight reduction. However the master battery pack can still be used alone, just like a battery pack of a conventional power tool.