Modular Battery Adaptor for Cross-Tool Connector Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Different power tools have unique electrical and mechanical interfaces, limiting the compatibility of batteries and prohibiting certain batteries from coupling with specific power tools, restricting their use across various devices.
Innovation Solution
A battery system with a modular design featuring interchangeable terminal blocks and adaptors that allow electrical and mechanical coupling with multiple power tools, enabling batteries to connect with tools having different configurations by using adaptable connectors and interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery is designed with a specific electrical and mechanical connector configuration, then it can reliably couple with power tools having the same configuration, but it cannot couple with power tools having different configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs adaptors as intermediary devices that couple between the battery connector and power tool connector. These adaptors have a first interface that matches the battery connector and a second interface that matches the power tool connector, enabling compatibility between differently configured batteries and power tools while maintaining reliable electrical and mechanical connections
2Ease of manufacture
If different power tools have unique electrical and mechanical interfaces, then each tool can be optimized for its specific function, but batteries cannot be universally used across multiple tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection system into three independent components: the battery connector, the adaptor, and the power tool connector. This segmentation allows each component to be independently designed and optimized - batteries maintain their original connector design while adaptors provide the interface conversion needed for compatibility with different power tool configurations
3Adaptability or versatility
If adaptors are added to enable battery compatibility with multiple power tools, then versatility is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptors are designed as universal intermediary devices that can bridge different connector types. Each adaptor contains both a mechanical connector portion and an electrical connector portion, providing multi-functional capability to handle both mechanical coupling and electrical connection between batteries and power tools with different configurations
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
Enables a single battery to power multiple power tools with varying electrical and mechanical interfaces, enhancing compatibility and versatility while maintaining secure and functional connections.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the electrical connector of the battery cell and the electrical connector of the power tool is a magnetic connector such that the electrical connector of the battery cell and the electrical connector of the power tool form a magnetic connection
Data Source
AI summary
A power tool system includes first and second power tools, each having a mechanical connector and an electrical connector. At least one of the connectors of the second power tool is dissimilar from the connectors of the first power tool. The power tool system further includes a battery housing defining a cavity therein, a battery cell positioned within the cavity of the battery housing, a mechanical connector configured to mechanically couple with the mechanical connector of the first power tool, an electrical connector configured to electrically couple with the electrical connector of the first power tool, and an adaptor configured to removably engage a connector of the battery such that the battery is configured to couple to the second power tool when the adaptor is coupled to the battery and is configured to couple to the first power tool when the adaptor is removed from the battery.