Spring-Biased Battery Pack Receptacle for Power Tool Impact Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power tools, such as fastener drivers, experience significant vibration and impact during use, which can lead to battery pack instability and potential damage, as existing designs often fail to effectively absorb these forces, risking battery pack removal or damage.

Innovation Solution

A power tool design featuring a battery pack receptacle with a movable configuration, utilizing springs or resilient bodies to bias the battery pack attachment relative to the receptacle, allowing for absorption of vibration and impact, and maintaining electrical communication through power tool terminals, thereby protecting the battery pack from harsh conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the battery pack receptacle is made fixed and rigid, then the electrical connection is stable, but the battery pack is vulnerable to vibration and impact damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection stabilityVSAvoidvibration and impact damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The battery pack receptacle is divided into a fixed outer receptacle body and a movable inner battery holder. The battery holder can move independently within the receptacle body, allowing the electrical connection points to remain stable while the battery holder absorbs vibration and impact through controlled movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A resilient body is introduced as an intermediary element between the battery holder and the receptacle body. This resilient body absorbs vibration and impact forces, protecting the battery pack while maintaining stable electrical connection through the fixed receptacle structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the battery pack receptacle is made movable to absorb vibration, then the battery pack is protected from impact, but the electrical connection stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration and impact absorptionVSAvoidelectrical connection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into a fixed electrical connection structure and a movable battery holding structure. The electrical terminals are attached to the fixed receptacle body, ensuring stable connections, while the battery holder moves independently to absorb vibration and impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient body acts as an intermediary that decouples the movable battery holder from the fixed receptacle body. It allows the holder to move for vibration absorption while maintaining the fixed position of electrical connections, thus protecting the battery without compromising connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a resilient body is added to absorb vibration, then the battery pack is protected from damage, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration and impact protectionVSAvoidreceptacle structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient body is integrated into the receptacle structure as a unified component rather than a separate attachment. The battery holder is designed to move within the receptacle body with the resilient body already positioned to provide vibration absorption, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining protection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient body automatically absorbs vibration and impact forces without requiring external control or adjustment. The movable battery holder naturally engages with the resilient body to provide protection, eliminating the need for complex control mechanisms or additional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

The solution effectively absorbs vibration and impact, reducing the risk of battery pack damage and enhancing the tool's robustness by preventing forceful impacts from being transmitted to the battery pack, thus extending its lifespan and maintaining reliable operation.

Implementation Method 1

One of a spring or a resilient body is positioned between the battery pack attachment portion and the battery pack receptacle and is configured to bias the battery pack attachment relative to the battery pack receptacle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4321304A1Battery pack receptacle for power tool
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 TECHTRONIC CORDLESS GP
  • EP4321304A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4321304A1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP4321304A1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A power tool includes a housing that defines a battery pack attachment portion, which has a first cavity and a flange. A printed circuit board and a motor are positioned within the housing. The motor is electrically communicates with the printed circuit board. A battery pack receptacle is positioned within the first cavity, is movably coupled to the battery pack attachment portion. The battery pack receptacle includes a groove in which the flange of the battery pack attachment portion is received and a second cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a battery pack. One of a spring or a resilient body is positioned between the battery pack attachment portion and the battery pack receptacle and is configured to bias the battery pack attachment relative to the battery pack receptacle. Power tool terminals are supported by the battery pack receptacle and electrically communicate with the printed circuit board.