US-12620667-B2 - Power tool having a multi-latch battery interface

Abstract

This application relates to a cordless power tool system including a set of cordless power tools, a set of rechargeable and removable battery packs, and a set of battery pack chargers.

Inventors

• Timothy J. Hennesy
• Michael Varipatis

Assignees

• BLACK & DECKER INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240326

Claims (17)

1. 1 . A power tool comprising: a housing; and a battery receptacle formed in the housing or coupled to the housing, the battery receptacle comprising a multi-latch mechanism comprising a first latch interface for engaging a first battery pack when the first battery pack is received in the battery receptacle along a receiving axis and a second latch interface disposed at a distance from the first latch interface for engaging a second battery pack when the second battery pack is received in the battery receptacle along the receiving axis.
2. 2 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first latch interface comprises a first arm pivotable around a first pivot member and having a first latch hook for engaging the first battery pack, and the second latch interface comprises a second arm pivotable around a second pivot member and having a second latch hook for engaging the second battery pack.
3. 3 . The power tool of claim 2 , wherein the multi-latch mechanism further comprises an actuator configured to move both the first latch interface and the second latch interface from a latched position to a released position.
4. 4 . The power tool of claim 3 , wherein the second latch interface is integrally formed with the actuator.
5. 5 . The power tool of claim 3 , wherein a first end of the first arm is coupled to the first pivot member and a second end of the first arm is coupled to the actuator.
6. 6 . The power tool of claim 5 , wherein the second end of the first arm is unfixedly coupled to the actuator.
7. 7 . The power tool of claim 2 , wherein the first latch interface is coupled to a first actuator and the second latch interface is coupled to a second actuator independent from the first actuator.
8. 8 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first latch interface comprises a first lateral recess arranged to engage a first translating latch of the first battery pack and the second latch interface comprises a second lateral recess distanced from the first lateral recess arranged to engage a second translating latch of the second battery pack.
9. 9 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first latch interface comprises a pivoting arm for pivoting engagement with the first battery pack and the second latch interface comprises a lateral recess for engagement with a translating latch of the second battery pack.
10. 10 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first latch interface comprises a first pivoting latch hook and the second latch interface comprises a second pivoting latch hook, wherein the multi-latch mechanism further comprises a sliding actuator configured to move along an axis parallel to the receiving axis of the first and second battery packs.
11. 11 . The power tool of claim 10 , wherein the sliding actuator includes a slot that engages the first latch interface and an end that engages the second latch interface.
12. 12 . The power tool of claim 11 , wherein the slot is sized to allow relative movement of the second latch interface relative to the sliding actuator.
13. 13 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first latch interface comprises a first pivoting latch hook and the second latch interface comprises a second pivoting latch hook, wherein the multi-latch mechanism further comprises a push actuator configured to move along an axis perpendicular to the receiving axis of the first and second battery packs.
14. 14 . The power tool of claim 13 , wherein the sliding actuator includes a slot that engages the first latch interface and an end that engages the second latch interface.
15. 15 . The power tool of claim 14 , wherein the slot is sized to allow relative movement of the second latch interface relative to the sliding actuator.
16. 16 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first latch interface comprises a pair of pivoting arms arranged to engage side grooves of the first battery pack.
17. 17 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first latch interface comprises a pair of sliding side plates arranged to engage side grooves of the first battery pack.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 17/398,823, filed Aug. 10, 2021, titled, “Power Tool Having a Multi-Latch Battery Interface,” which in turn claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/063,520, filed Aug. 10, 2020, titled “Power Tool Having a Multi-Latch Battery Interface.” TECHNICAL FIELD This application relates to a cordless power tool system including a set of cordless power tools, a set of rechargeable and removable battery packs, and a set of battery pack chargers. BACKGROUND Electric tools include an electric motor and require a source of electricity to power the motor. Electric tools may be broken down into two groups: (1) corded electric tools that source electricity through a cord plugged into a source of alternating current and (2) cordless electric tools that source electricity from a battery. Cordless electric tools may be broken down into two groups: (1) tools that use an internal, integrated battery and (2) tools that use a removable battery pack. The cordless electric tools that use a removable battery pack and the removable battery pack that provides electricity (energy/power) to a cordless electric tool requires a combination interface between the tool and the pack. The tool includes a tool interface portion/aspect/element of the combination interface and the pack includes a pack interface portion/aspect/element of the combination interface. The combination interface allows the tool and the pack to couple/mate and decouple/unmate with each other such that when the tool and the pack are coupled/mated the pack will provide power to the tool and will stay affixed to the tool during operation of the combination. The combination interface is configured and defined such that only tools and packs that are intended to work with each will be able to fully couple/mate. Particularly, different tool and pack manufacturers configure and define the combination interface between their tools and packs such that a tool of one manufacturer will not fully couple/mate with a battery pack of another manufacture. In some configurations, the combination interface may include one or more guide rails that allow insertion of the battery pack along a receiving axis (direction) until electrical contact is made between a battery pack terminal block holding a plurality of battery pack terminals and a power tool terminal block holding a plurality of power tool terminals. A latching mechanism is typically provided to lock the removable battery pack to the tool. The latching mechanism may include male/female components provided as part of the battery pack interface, the tool interface, or a combination of the two. In some configurations, the latching mechanism is provided in the form of an actuatable stop that locks the battery pack relative to the tool along the insertion axis. A battery pack typically includes a series of battery cells connected in a series, parallel, or series/parallel configuration. The battery cells may be electrically connected in series to increase the voltage rating of the battery pack, in parallel to increase the current and/or charge capacity of the battery pack, or a combination of series and parallel configuration. For example, a battery pack marketed as a 20V Max battery pack in the power tool industry with a nominal voltage of approximately 18V may include a single string of five battery cells (5S1P), or multiple such strings of five battery cells connected in parallel (5SxP, where x>1). The battery pack current capacity, and consequently its runtime, may be increased by increasing the number of parallel strings of battery cells. In this example, the parallel connections are made at the ends of the strings, though it should be understood that parallel connections may also be made between corresponding nodes of different strings of battery cells. In an example embodiment, the battery pack may be a convertible battery pack where the strings of cells may be switchably configured in series or parallel depending on the voltage requirement of the power tool it is intended to supply energy to. U.S. Pat. No. 9,406,915, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes examples of such a convertible battery pack. A power tool may be configured to receive battery packs of different voltage or capacity ratings. For example, a high-power tool such as a concrete breaker or a rotary hammer may be configured to receive one or more conventional 60V Max 4 Ah battery packs, or one or more higher voltage (e.g., 120V) battery packs to increase the output speed and/or power output of the tool, or one or more high capacity (e.g., 6 A.h.) battery packs to increase the battery pack runtime and/or power output. The higher voltage and/or higher capacity battery packs in this example may be generally different in size or shape than conventional battery packs. Wha