Replaceable Battery Contact Interface for Hand Power Tools

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand-held power tools face issues with damaged contact elements leading to mechanical wear and failure, requiring professional replacement due to safety concerns and complexity in user self-replacement.

Innovation Solution

A two-part interface structure with a base element integrated into the tool's housing and a detachable contact carrier, allowing users to replace contact elements without opening the housing, using screw connections and elastic elements for secure and efficient contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If contact elements are integrated into the housing, then structural strength and reliability are improved, but ease of repair deteriorates as replacement requires opening the housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact element reliabilityVSAvoidcontact element replacement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is divided into two separate parts: a base element that remains integrated into the housing and provides structural support, and a contact carrier that holds the contact elements and can be detached for replacement. This segmentation allows the contact elements to be replaced without opening the housing, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The contact carrier with contact elements is extracted as a separate replaceable component from the housing. This extraction enables users to remove and replace worn contact elements independently, maintaining the reliability benefits of integrated construction while dramatically improving repairability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of repair

If contact elements are made replaceable by users, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional interface components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact element replacement easeVSAvoidinterface structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is segmented into a base element and a contact carrier connected by contact means. This segmentation enables user-replaceable contact elements while keeping the overall structure relatively simple and modular, avoiding excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interface is designed to enable users to perform maintenance themselves by replacing contact elements. The modular design with detachable contact carrier allows self-service repair without requiring specialized tools or housing disassembly, improving ease of repair while maintaining acceptable complexity levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If contact elements are firmly integrated, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates as replacement requires professional service

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact element connection reliabilityVSAvoidcontact element replacement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The contact element system is segmented into a permanently mounted base element and a detachable contact carrier. This allows the base element to be firmly manufactured into the housing for reliability, while the contact carrier can be easily replaced by users, improving ease of manufacture and maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The contact carrier is extracted as a separate serviceable component that can be removed and replaced without affecting the permanently integrated base element. This extraction enables users to replace contact elements themselves, dramatically improving ease of manufacture and eliminating the need for professional service for routine maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3393722B1Hand power tool
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3393722B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3393722B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3393722B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a hand-held power tool (300), which has a housing (305) having a handle (315), a drive motor (335) arranged in the housing, and an interface (380) for producing a mechanical and/or electrical connection of the hand-held power tool to a battery pack (100), wherein the interface has a base element (381) for the electrical and/or mechanical connection of the interface to the hand-held power tool, and a separate contact carrier (382) having at least one contact element for making electrical and/or mechanical contact with at least one corresponding mating contact element (140) on the battery pack.