WO2014030339A2

WO2014030339A2 - Battery pack and electric device

Info

Publication number: WO2014030339A2
Application number: PCT/JP2013/004908
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tetsuhiro Harada; Tomomasa Nishikawa
Original assignee: Hitachi Koki Co Ltd
Current assignee: Koki Holdings Co Ltd
Priority date: 2012-08-22
Filing date: 2013-08-20
Publication date: 2014-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-22
Also published as: WO2014030339A3

Description

BATTERY PACK AND ELECTRIC DEVICE

The present invention relates to a battery pack which is attachable/detachable to/from an electric-device main body and relates to an electric device having the electric-device main body and the battery pack.

Conventionally, an electric device provided with an electric-device main body and a battery pack which is attachable/detachable to/from the electric-device main body has been known, and an example thereof is described in Patent Literature 1. In Patent Literature 1, an electric power tool is described as an example of the electric device, and the electric power tool has a casing and a grip. An electric motor is provided inside the casing, and a plate-like device-side terminal is provided at an end of the grip. A battery pack described in Patent Literature 1 is configured to be detachable/attachable to/from the grip. The battery pack has a housing case, and the housing case has a case main body which houses a group of battery cells and a cover which covers an opening of the case main body.

Also, the cover has a plurality of terminal insertion ports and insertion ports. A circuit board is electrically connected to electrodes of battery cells via a connecting plate and a lead wire. A plurality of battery-side terminals are attached to the circuit board. Also, a protecting cover is attached onto the circuit board. And, in a step of unifying the battery pack, the group of battery cells and the circuit board are housed in the case main body, and then, an opening thereof is closed by the cover, so that the battery pack is unified. By unifying the battery pack, the plurality of battery-side terminals are arranged in the plurality of terminal insertion ports, respectively. Also, the protecting cover is arranged between the circuit board and the insertion port.

When the battery pack described in Patent Literature 1 is to be coupled to a charger for charging, a protecting member which protects a terminal of the charger is inserted into the insertion port. Meanwhile, when the battery pack is attached to the grip in a state that the battery pack is detached from the charger, device-side terminals are inserted into the terminal insertion ports so that the device-side terminals and the battery-side terminals are connected to each other. Further, in the battery pack described in Patent Literature 1, a protecting cover is provided between the opening and the circuit board. Therefore, in a state that the battery pack is not coupled to the charger, and besides, that the battery pack is not attached to the grip, entry of foreign substances such as a nail into the housing case through the opening can be suppressed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-66141

However, in the battery pack described in Patent Literature 1, the terminal insertion ports are formed in the cover. Therefore, there is a possibility that foreign substances outside the housing case enter the inside of the housing case through the terminal insertion ports. Also, there is a possibility that foreign substances enter the inside of the housing case through a gap of a connecting part between the case main body and the cover. When foreign substances enter the inside of the housing case as described above, there is a possibility that the electrodes of the battery cell are short-circuited to each other.

A preferred aim of the present invention is to provide a battery pack and an electric device capable of preventing the short-circuit between the electrodes of the battery cell caused when the foreign substances enter the inside of the housing case.

In a battery pack of an embodiment is a battery pack having a housing case which houses a battery cell having electrodes and which is attachable/detachable to/from an electric-device main body, the battery pack has: a holder which is provided inside the housing case and which has a holding part for housing the battery cell; and a cover member which covers the holding part.

In an electric device of another embodiment is an electric device having a battery pack in which a battery cell is housed in a housing case and having an electric-device main body to/from which the battery pack is attachable/detachable, the battery pack has: a holder which is provided inside the housing case and which has a holding part for housing the battery cell; and a cover member which covers the holding part.

A battery pack of another embodiment is a battery pack having a housing case which houses a battery cell and which is attachable/detachable to/from an electric-device main body, the housing case has: a bottom part; a first wall part which is provided continuously from the bottom part; and a first through-hole which penetrates through the first wall part, and a part of an inner peripheral surface of the first through-hole is positioned to be adjacent to an inner surface of the bottom part.

A battery pack of another embodiment is a battery pack having a housing case which houses a battery cell and which is attachable/detachable to/from an electric-device main body, the housing case has: a bottom part; a third wall part which is provided continuously from the bottom part and which faces an end of the battery cell; and a fourth through-hole which penetrates through the third wall part.

A battery pack of another embodiment is a battery pack having a housing case which houses a battery cell and which is attachable/detachable to/from an electric-device main body, the housing case has: a bottom part in contact with an object on which the housing case is placed; and a fifth wall part which is provided continuously from the bottom part, the fifth wall part is provided with a first drainage hole from which water inside the housing case is drained to outside of the housing case, and a part of an inner peripheral surface of the first drainage hole is positioned on the same plane as an inner surface of the bottom part.

An electric device of another embodiment is an electric device having a battery pack in which a battery cell is housed in a housing case and having an electric-device main body to/from which the battery pack is attachable/detachable, and the battery pack has: a holder which is provided inside the housing case and which has a holding part for housing the battery cell; and a cover member which covers the holding part.

According to the battery pack of the present invention, the holding part in which the battery cell is housed can be sealed with the cover member. Therefore, short-circuit between the electrodes of the battery cell can be prevented.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an electric device of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery pack of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a holder housed in the battery pack of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the holder housed in the battery pack of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the holder housed in the battery pack of the present invention; FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an insulating member used for the holder of FIG. 5; FIG. 6B is a development view of the insulating member used for the holder of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an electric power tool which is an example of the electric device of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a battery pack of the present invention; FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack illustrated in FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack illustrated in FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a case main body of the battery pack illustrated in FIGs. 8 to 10; FIG. 12 is a conceptual view of a state that the battery pack of the present invention is placed on a charger; and FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating another example of the battery pack of the present invention.

Frist Embodiment

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electric device and a battery pack of the present invention will be explained in detail by using drawings. The electric device of the present invention has an electric-device main body and the battery pack, and the battery pack is attachable/detachable to/from the electric-device main body. FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic configuration of an electric power tool 30 which is an example of the electric device. The electric power tool 30 has a tool main body 10 and a battery pack 12. The tool main body 10 is provided with a casing 10a, a grip part 10b, and an attachment part 10c. An electric motor M is housed inside the casing 10a. The casing 10a is connected to one end of the grip part 10b, and the attachment part 10c is provided at the other end of the grip part 10b. A concave part 10d is formed in the attachment part 10c, and a plurality of device-side terminals 11 are provided at the concave part 10d. A circuit board which controls the electric motor M is provided inside the grip part 10b, and the plurality of device-side terminals 11 are connected to the circuit board.

The battery pack 12 is attachable/detachable to/from the attachment part 10c. That is, the electric power tool 30 is a cordless-type tool to which a cord for supplying electric power to the electric motor M is not connected. Note that a tip tool 24 is attachable/detachable to/from the casing 10a. When motive power is transmitted from the electric motor M to the tip tool 24, the tip tool 24 performs rotary motion or reciprocating motion around an axis line A. That is, the electric power tool 30 includes a drill, a driver, a hammer, a hammer drill, and a hammer driver. Hereinafter, embodiments of the battery pack 12 will be sequentially explained.

First Specific Example

A first specific example of the battery pack 12 will be explained based on FIGs. 2 and 3. The battery pack 12 has a plurality of battery cells 13, a holder 14, and a housing case 15. Each of the battery cells 13 is a secondary battery which can be repeatedly charged and discharged. The battery cell 13 includes a lithium-ion battery cell, a nickel-hydrogen battery cell, a lithium-ion polymer battery cell, and a nickel-cadmium battery cell. The battery cell 13 has: a body part 13a having a cylindrical shape; and electrodes 13b provided at both ends of the body part 13a in a direction along a center line B thereof. The two electrodes 13b provided at the electrode cell 13 have different polarities from each other. That is, one of the two electrodes 13b is an anode, and the other is a cathode.

The holder 14 holds the plurality of battery cells 13, and the holder 14 has a role as an insulator for covering the plurality of battery cells 13. The plurality of battery cells 13 can be also referred to as a group of the battery cells 13. The housing case 15 is an element which houses the holder 14 holding the plurality of battery cells 13. The housing case 15 has a case main body 16 and a cover 17 which closes an opening 16a of the case main body 16. All of the holder 14, the case main body 16, and the cover 17 are separately formed from each other so as to be made of an electrically-non-conductive material. The electrically-non-conductive material includes a resin material.

The holder 14 has eight holding holes 14a. Each of the eight holding holes 14a is a space having a cylindrical shape. In the holder 14, four holding holes 14a are aligned in one row, and a group of the holding holes 14a are formed in two rows. The center lines of the holding holes 14a are parallel to the other. The holder 14 has

openings

14b and 14c which are formed on respective both ends of the eight holding holes 14a in a direction along the center line. The

openings

14b and 14c are commonly used by the eight holding holes 14a. The holder 14 holds the eight battery cells 13 by inserting the battery cells 13 into the respective holding holes 14a. Further, a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of the battery cells 13 is provided at the opening 14b or the opening 14c.

Also, the electrodes 13b of the battery cells 13 held in the holder 14 are connected to each other by a connecting member 18. The eight electrodes 13b positioned at one opening 14b are connected to each other so that four of the electrodes 13b grouped as one set are connected to each other by one connecting member 18. More specifically, the four battery cells 13 which are vertically and horizontally adjacent to each other are grouped as one set, and the cathodes of the two battery cells and the anodes of the two battery cells are serially connected to each other by one connecting member 18. On the other hand, in the opening 14c, the four electrodes 13b positioned at the center are serially connected to each other by one connecting member 18. The four electrodes 13b include two cathodes and two anodes. Also, the cathodes of the electrodes 13b of the battery cells 13 positioned on both sides of the four electrodes 13b are connected to each other by one connecting member 18, and the anodes thereof are connected to each other by one connecting member 18. In the present embodiment, the connecting member 18 for electrically connecting the electrodes 13b to each other is made of a metal material having electrical conductivity. The metal material includes not only copper, aluminum, etc. but also a material obtained by nickel-plating a surface of a rolled steel plate. Also, it is preferred that the connecting member 18 has a plate-like shape.

Further, a circuit board 19 is fixed to the holder 14. The circuit board 19 is made of an electrically-non-conductive resin material, and a plurality of battery-side terminals 20 are attached to the circuit board 19. Each of the plurality of battery-side terminals 20 is made of an electrically-conductive metal material. Each of the plurality of battery-side terminals 20 is connected to an electric circuit. Also, the plurality of battery-side terminals 20 are protruded and extended from a surface of the circuit board 19.

Further, the connecting member 18 provided on the opening 14b side is connected to the circuit board 19 via an electrically-conductive lead wire 22. The connecting member 18 provided in the opening 14c is connected to the circuit board 19 via a lead wire. The electric circuits are formed on the circuit board 19, and the electric circuits are connected to the plurality of battery-side terminals 20. The connecting member 18 connecting the cathodes to each other is connected to the battery-side terminal 20 for a cathode, and the connecting member 18 connecting the anodes to each other is connected to the battery-side terminal 20 for an anode. Note that the temperature sensor is connected to the circuit board 19.

Further, the opening 14b of the holder 14 is separately covered with an insulating member 21a. The insulating member 21a has a plate-like shape. An outer peripheral shape of the insulating member 21a is a shape formed along an edge of the holder 14 forming the opening 14b. The insulating member 21a is made of a material having at least one function of an electrically insulating function, a water-proof function, and a dust-proof function. The material making the insulating member 21a includes an insulating tape or an insulating sheet using a resin film as a base material, a rubber-like elastic body, a metal plate having a surface on which an insulating layer made of a resin material is formed, and others. The insulating member 21a is fixed to the holder 14.

Also, a window part S where a part of the lead wires 22 is arranged is formed between the holder 14 and the insulating member 21a. Further, a seal member 23 which covers a region including the window part S is provided. The seal member 23 is provided so as to cover a part of the outer periphery of the insulating member 21a and a peripheral edge of the opening 14b. The seal member 23 is a protecting member which plays a role of preventing the short-circuit between the electrodes 13b, and besides, protects the electrodes 13b from the foreign substances such as mud, water, and dust. A material making the seal member 23 includes silicon, urethane, clay and others. The urethane is a compound obtained by dehydration condensation (synthesis) between an amino group and an alcohol group via a carbonyl group. Note that the urethane also includes those which are commonly called urethane such as ethyl carbamate and polyurethane. The polyurethane is included in an urethane resin.

Further, the opening 14c is covered with an insulating member 21b. In FIG. 3, the insulating member 21a covering the opening 14b and the insulating member 21b covering the opening 14c are physically formed of separate members from each other. Still further, a window part is formed also at the opening 14c as similar to the above-described window part S. However, the window part is omitted in FIG. 2. Still further, the window part formed on the opening 14c side is also covered with a seal member. This seal member has the same material and the same function as those of the seal member 23. The seal member 23 may be provided so as to cover the entire area of the surface of the holder 14 except for the circuit board 19.

The above-described case main body 16 has a bottom plate and a lateral plate 16b which is formed continuously from an outer peripheral edge of the bottom plate. A ventilation hole 16c which communicates the inside and the outside of the case main body 16 is provided in the lateral plate 16b. The holder 14 holding the plurality of battery cells 13 is housed inside the case main body 16. On the other hand, a plurality of terminal insertion ports 17a are provided in the cover 17. The plurality of terminal insertion ports 17a are formed in a slit shape. And, the holder 14 holding the plurality of battery cells 13 is taken into the case main body 16, and the opening 16a of the case main body 16 is covered with the cover 17, so that the plurality of battery-side terminals 20 are inserted in the plurality of terminal insertion ports 17a. Further, a ventilation hole 17b which communicate the inside and the outside of the housing case 15 is provided in the cover 17.

Next, an operation of attaching the battery pack 12 to the attachment part 10c of the tool main body 10 will be explained. As illustrated in FIG. 1, by relatively moving the battery pack 12 and the tool main body 10 so as to be close to each other, the battery pack 12 can be attached to the attachment part 10c. The battery pack 12 of the present embodiment is moved in a direction along the axis line A of the tip tool 24 and is attached to the attachment part 10c. For this, the attachment part 10c and the cover 17 are provided with a guide rail, a guide groove, and others. However, illustration thereof is omitted.

When the battery pack 12 is attached to the attachment part 10c, the plurality of battery-side terminals 20 and the plurality of device-side terminals 11 are connected to each other, respectively. Note that, by relatively moving the battery pack 12 and the tool main body 10 with respect to each other in an opposite direction of the above-described direction in a state that the battery pack 12 is attached to the attachment part 10c of the tool main body 10, the battery pack 12 can be detached from the attachment part 10c.

On the other hand, the battery pack 12 can be also attached to a charger. The charger is a device which charges the battery cells 13 with electric power of an alternating-current power source. Also, the charger has a cooling fan. When the battery pack 12 is attached to the charger and the cooling fan is rotated, the wind formed by the cooling fan enters the inside of the housing case 15 through the ventilation hole 17b, and then, is exhausted from the ventilation hole 16c. Therefore, in the battery pack 12, the inside of the housing case 15 is cooled upon the charge to the battery cells 13.

In both of the state that the battery pack 12 is attached to the tool main body 10 and the state that the battery pack 12 is detached from the tool main body 10, there is a possibility that the foreign substances outside the housing case 15 enter the inside of the housing case 15 from at least one location of a gap between the case main body 16 and the cover 17, the ventilation holes 16c and 17b, and the terminal insertion ports 17a. The foreign substances include water, dust, mud, and others. Since the electric power tool 30 is the cordless type, the electric power tool 30 can be used regardless of the place. That is, the electric power tool 30 is often used in horrible environment such as an environment full of powder dust such as a building demolition work site, rainy weather, and others.

In the battery pack 12 of the present embodiment, the opening 14b of the holder 14 is covered with the insulating member 21a. Moreover, the opening 14c is covered with the insulating member 21b so that a sealing property is ensured. Therefore, in the battery pack 12, even when the foreign substances from outside enter the inside of the housing case 15, the short-circuit between the electrodes 13b can be suppressed. The short-circuit in the present embodiment includes short-circuit between the electrodes 13b having the same polarity as each other and short-circuit between the electrodes 13b having different polarities from each other. Also, since the window parts are covered with the seal members, the sealing property is further improved. Therefore, in the battery pack 12, even when water enters the inside of the housing case 15, the short-circuit between the electrodes 13b and corrosion thereof can be suppressed. Therefore, the durability of the battery cell 13 can be improved without a damage that affects the performance of the battery cell 13.

Second Specific Example

Next, another embodiment of the structure in which the holder 14 of the battery pack 12 of FIG. 2 is sealed will be explained based on FIGs. 4 to 6. In FIGs. 4 to 6, the same components as those of FIGs. 2 and 3 are denoted by the same reference symbols as those of FIGs. 2 and 3. The

openings

14b and 14c of the holder 14 are covered with a single insulating member 21. The insulating member 21 is provided so as to surround the periphery of the holder 14. The insulating member 21 has two

wide parts

21c and 21d and a connecting part 21e which connects between the

wide parts

21c and 21d. That is, the insulating member 21 is formed to have an endless shape. Also, the connecting member 21e has a narrower width than those of the

wide parts

21c and 21d. The wide part 21c has a shape which covers the opening 14b, and the wide part 21d has a shape which covers the opening 14c. The material making the insulating member 21 and the function thereof are the same as those of the insulating

members

21a and 21b.

A structure in which the annular insulating member 21 is formed includes a structure in which the insulating member 21is formed to wholly have the endless shape as illustrated in FIG. 6A and a structure in which a part of the connecting part 21e is disconnected as illustrated in FIG. 6B. Such an insulating member 21 that a part of the connecting part 21e is disconnected is wound around the holder 14, and then, is fixed by bonding ends of the connecting part 21e to each other. The ends of the connecting part 21e may be overlapped with each other. When the holder 14 to which the insulating member 21 is attached is housed in the battery pack 12, the battery pack 12 can obtain the effects similar to those of the first specific example.

According to the present invention, a body part of the battery cell is housed in the holding hole.

According to the present invention, the gap between the peripheral edge of the opening and the cover member can be sealed with the seal member, so that the sealing property is improved.

According to the present invention, even when the foreign substances enter the inside of the housing case through the terminal insertion port, the short-circuit between the electrodes can be prevented.

According to the electric device of the present invention, the holding part in which the battery cell is housed can be sealed with the cover member. Therefore, the short-circuit between the electrodes of the battery cell can be prevented.

Here, as explanation of a correspondence relation between the configuration explained in the first embodiment and the configuration of the present invention, the electric power tool 30 corresponds to the electric device of the present invention, the tool main body 10 corresponds to the electric-device main body of the present invention, the insulating

members

21, 21a, and 21b correspond to the cover members of the present invention, and the holding hole 14a corresponds to the holding part of the present invention.

The battery pack of the present invention is not limited to those of the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within a scope of the present invention. For example, in FIGs. 2 and 3, each shape of the insulating

members

21a and 21b may be such a shape that the window part S is not formed between the insulating

members

21a, 21b and the holder 14. Further, the seal member 23 can be provided at the entire outer peripheral edges of the insulating

members

21a and 21b illustrated in FIG. 2. Still further, a gap formed between the outer peripheral edge of the insulating member 21 illustrated in FIG. 5 and the peripheral edge of the holder 14 forming the

openings

14b and 14c can be filled with the seal member. Still further, as similar to FIG. 2, the window part also can be formed between the outer peripheral edge of the insulating member 21 illustrated in FIG. 5 and the peripheral edge of the holder 14 forming the

openings

14b and 14c. Still further, each of the holders 14 illustrated in FIGs. 3 and 5 has the two

openings

14b and 14c on both sides of the holding hole 14a. On the other hand, the holder may have a structure having an opening on only one side of the holding hole in the center line whereas the other side thereof is covered. That is, the holding part of the present invention includes a concave part.

Still further, the structure electrically connecting between the connecting member 18 and the electric circuit includes a structure in which a part of the connecting member 18 in addition to the above-described lead wire 22 is extended to be directly connected with the electric circuit. Also, the battery pack 12 of the present invention includes a structure in which the battery pack is moved in the direction along the axis line A of the tip tool 24 so as to be attached to the attachment part 10c and a structure in which the battery pack is moved in a direction intersecting with the axis line A of the tip tool 24 so as to be attached to the attachment part 10c. Further, the holder in the present invention includes a structure in which battery cells less than eight are housed and a structure in which nine or more battery cells are housed.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a battery pack which is attachable/detachable to/from an electric-device main body, and to an electric device having the electric-device main body and the battery pack.

Conventionally, a battery pack configured so as to be attachable/detachable to/from an electric device has been known, and an example of the battery pack is described in Patent Literature 2, i.e., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-289694. The battery pack described in Patent Literature 2 has a housing case and a battery pack housed inside the housing case. The housing case is provided with an upper case and a lower case. Also, the upper case is provided with an air-intake hole, and the lower case is provided with an air-exhaust hole. Further, Patent Literature 2 also describes a charger which charges the battery pack. The charger has a main body part and a cooling fan provided in the main body part.

When the battery pack described in Patent Literature 2 is placed on the main body part of the charger to charge the battery cells of the battery pack, air flow formed by the cooling fan enters the inside of the housing case through the air-intake hole. The air which has entered the inside of the housing case draws the heat from the battery cells, and is exhausted to the outside of the housing case from the air-exhaust hole. According to the battery pack described in Patent Literature 2, deterioration of the members inside the battery cells can be suppressed by cooling the battery cells.

Incidentally, when the battery pack is used in wet environment such as a construction site and outdoors, water enters the inside of the housing case from the air-intake hole, the air-exhaust hole, or others in some cases.

However, in the battery pack described in Patent Literature 2, there is no description about the exhaust of the water which has entered the inside of the housing case of the battery pack to the outside of the housing case, and there is a possibility that the water remains inside the housing case.

A preferred aim of the second embodiment of the present invention is to provide a battery pack and an electric device in which the water which has entered the inside of the housing case can be exhausted to the outside of the housing case.

The second embodiment of the electric device and the battery pack of the present invention will be explained in detail by using drawings. FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic configuration of an electric power tool 110 which is an example of the electric device. The electric power tool 110 has a tool main body 111 and a battery pack 112. The battery pack 112 is attachable/detachable to/from the tool main body 111. The tool main body 111 is provided with a casing 111a, a grip part 111b, and an attachment part 111c. An electric motor 113 is housed inside the casing 111a. The electric motor 113 has an electromagnetic coil to which electric power is supplied. Note that a fan which is driven by the motive power of the electric motor 113 is provided inside the casing 111a. The electric power tool 110 is a cordless-type tool to which a cord for supplying electric power to the electric motor 113 is not connected.

Also, a tip tool 114 is attachable/detachable to/from the casing 111a. When motive power is transmitted from the electric motor 113 to the tip tool 114, the tip tool 114 performs rotary motion or reciprocating motion across the axis line A. That is, the electric power tool 110 includes an impact driver, a drill, a driver, a hammer, a hammer drill, and a hammer driver.

The casing 111a is connected to one end of the grip part 111b, and the attachment part 111c is provided at the other end of the grip part 111b. Inside the grip part 111b, a control board which controls the electric motor 113 is provided. A concave part 111d is formed in the attachment part 111c, and a plurality of, specifically, three tool-side terminals 115 are provided at the concave part 111d. The three tool-side terminals 115 include a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a signal terminal. The positive terminal and the negative terminal are connected to the electromagnetic coil of the electric motor 113 via a control element. The signal terminal is connected to a circuit board which controls the electric motor 113. The battery pack 112 is attachable/detachable to/from the attachment part 111c.

The configuration of the battery pack 112 will be explained based on FIGs. 8 to 10. The battery pack 112 has a plurality of battery cells 116, a holder 117, and a housing case 118. Each of the battery cells 116 is a secondary battery which can be repeatedly charged and discharged. The battery cell 116 includes a lithium-ion battery cell, a nickel-hydrogen battery cell, a lithium-ion polymer battery cell, a nickel-cadmium battery cell, and others. The battery cell 116 has a cylindrical shape, and two electrodes are provided on both ends of the battery cell 116 in a longitudinal direction. One of the two electrodes is a positive electrode, and the other is a negative electrode.

The holder 117 holds the plurality of battery cells 116 in parallel to each other, and the holder 117 is provided with a role as an insulator which covers the plurality of battery cells 116. In the present specification, the plurality of battery cells 116 is also referred to as a group of the battery cells 116. The holder 117 has a tubular shape, and the group of the battery cells 116 is housed therein. The holder 117 may have a structure having openings at both ends or a structure having an opening at one end.

The holder 117 of the present embodiment houses the eight battery cells 116 in two rows so that the four battery cells 116 are parallely aligned in one row. And, the four battery cells 116 are formed as one set, and two sets of the battery cells 116 are serially connected individually. A first connecting member is connected to the positive electrodes of the two battery cells 116 positioned on one end of one set of the four serially-connected battery cells. On the other hand, a second connecting member is connected to the negative electrodes of the two battery cell 116 positioned on the other end of one set of the four serially-connected battery cells 116.

In the present embodiment, the connecting member which electrically connects between the electrodes is made of a metal material having electrical conductivity. This metal material includes not only copper, aluminum, etc. but also a material obtained by nickel-plating a surface of a rolled steel plate. Also, it is preferred that the connecting member has a plate-like shape. And, a surface of each of the connecting members which is on an opposite side of a part in contact with the electrode is covered with an insulating member 119. A material making the insulating member includes an insulating tape or an insulating sheet using a resin film as a base material, a rubber-like elastic body, a metal plate having a surface on which an insulating layer made of a resin material is formed, and others. Note that the opening of the holder 117 or the gap between the insulating member 119 and an opening edge of the holder 117 can be covered with a sheet member having a water-proof property, silicon, clay, or others.

Further, a circuit board 120 is attached to an outer side of a body part of the holder 117. The circuit board 120 is made of an electrically-conductive resin material to have a flat-plate shape. A plurality of battery-side terminals 121 are attached to the circuit board 120. Each of the plurality of battery-side terminals 121 is made of an electrically-conductive metal material. The plurality of battery-side terminals 121 include a charging positive terminal, a discharging positive terminal, a charging/discharging negative terminal, and four signal terminals. The above-described first connecting member is connected to each of the charging positive terminal and the discharging positive terminal via a first lead wire. Also, the second connecting member is connected to the charging/discharging negative terminal via a second lead wire.

The housing case 118 is an element housing the holder 117 holding the plurality of battery cells 116. The housing case 118 has a case main body 123 and a cover 124 which covers an opening 123a of the case main body 123. All of the holder 117, the case main body 123, and the cover 124 are separately made of an electrically-non-conductive material. The electrically-non-conductive material includes a resin material. The above-described case main body 123 has a bottom part 123b, a front wall 123c formed continuously from an outer peripheral edge of the bottom part 123b, a rear wall 123d, and two lateral walls 123e. When the case main body 123 is viewed in a plane, the bottom part 123b is substantially rectangular.

The front wall 123c and the rear wall 123d are connected to two parallel sides of the bottom part 123b, and are extended so as to be at a right angle with respect to the bottom part 123b. That is, the front wall 123c and the rear wall 123d are substantially parallel to each other. Also, the two lateral walls 123e are connected to two parallel sides of the bottom part 123b, and are extended so as to be at a right angle with respect to the bottom part 123b. The two lateral walls 123e are substantially parallel to each other. The two lateral walls 123e are provided so as to face an end of the battery cell 116 in a longitudinal direction. Note that, in the bottom part 123b, the two sides to which the front wall 123c and the rear wall 123d are connected and the two sides to which the two lateral walls 123e are connected are different from each other.

Further, the front wall 123c is provided with a plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 which communicate the inside and the outside of the housing case 118. That is, the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 are provided to penetrate through the front wall 123c in the thickness direction thereof. The plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 are arranged along the height direction of the battery pack 112. Here, the height direction means a top-and-bottom direction of the housing case 118 in a state that the battery pack 112 is attached to the tool main body 111 with the substantially-horizontal axis line A of the tool main body 111.

The plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 are passages which exhaust the air inside the housing case 118 to the outside. The plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 are provided in two rows. For each row, three ventilation holes 131 are provided in the upper side in the height direction, and one ventilation hole 132 is provided at the lowest position in the height direction. That is, in the height direction of the housing case 118, the ventilation holes 131 are provided at the positions distant from the bottom part 123b farther than the ventilation holes 132. When the front wall 123c is viewed from a front direction, the ventilation holes 131 and 132 may have any shape such as a rectangular shape, an elliptical shape, and a circular shape. A part of an inner peripheral surface of the ventilation hole 132 is provided to be adjacent to the inner surface of the bottom part 123b.

More specifically, the part of the inner peripheral surface of the ventilation hole 132 is provided continuously from the inner surface of the bottom part 123b. That is, the part of the inner peripheral surface of the ventilation hole 132 is positioned substantially on the same plane as the inner surface of the bottom part 123b. In the present embodiment, the part of the inner peripheral surface of the ventilation hole 132 is the lowest part of the case main body 123 in the height direction.

Further, as illustrated in FIGs. 10 and 11, a drainage hole 133 is provided at a boundary part between the bottom part 123b and the lateral wall 23e, that is, a connecting part therebetween. That is, the drainage hole 133 is provided in the lateral wall 123e facing the ends of the battery cells 116, and besides, a part of the inner peripheral surface of the drainage hole 133 is adjacent to the inner surface of the bottom part 123b. More specifically, the part of the inner peripheral surface of the drainage hole 133 and the inner surface of the bottom part 123b are continuously provided from each other. That is, the part of the inner peripheral surface of the drainage hole 133 and the inner surface of the bottom part 123b are positioned substantially on the same plane as each other. The drainage hole 133 penetrates through the case main body 123 in the thickness direction, and the inside and the outside of the housing case 118 are connected to each other by the drainage hole 133.

The above-described drainage hole 133 has a structure for draining the foreign substances such as water inside the housing case 118 to the outside of the housing case 118. An opening area of the drainage hole 133 is smaller than an opening area of the ventilation hole 132. Also, when the lateral wall 123e is viewed from a lateral direction, a shape of the drainage hole 133 may be any shape such as a rectangular shape, an elliptical shape, or a circular shape. Note that the drainage hole 133 may be provided at each of the boundary parts between the two lateral walls 123e and the bottom part 123b.

On the other hand, the cover 124 has a base part 134, and a plate part 125 and a mount part 126 are provided on the base part 134. In a state that the cover 124 is attached to the case main body 123, the plate part 125 has a flat-plate shape which is substantially parallel to the bottom part 123b. Also, in a state that the cover 124 is attached to the case main body 123, the mount part 126 is protruded upward from the plate part 125. A guide rails127 which is used when the battery pack 112 is attached to the tool main body 111 is provided on each of both sides of the mount part 126. The two guide rails 127 are arranged to be parallel to each other.

A plurality of terminal insertion ports 128 are provided between the two guide rails 127 of the mount part 126. The plurality of terminal insertion ports 128 penetrate outward from the inside of the housing case 118 in a slit shape. Also, the plurality of terminal insertion ports 128 are arranged to be parallel to the guide rails 127. Further, the plurality of terminal insertion ports 128 are arranged in one row between one guide rail 127 and the other guide rail 127. Still further, when the housing case 118 is viewed in a plane in a state that the cover 124 is attached to the case main body 123, the plurality of terminal insertion ports 128 are arranged immediately above the plurality of battery-side terminals 121.

Still further, a window 129 is provided at a boundary part between the mount part 126 and the plate part 125. When the cover 124 is viewed in a plane, the window 129 is linearly extended in a direction at a substantially right angle with respect to the two guide rails 127. The window 129 is connected to the plurality of terminal insertion ports 128. Still further, in a state that the cover 124 is attached to the case main body 123, the plurality of battery-side terminals 121 are inserted into the plurality of terminal insertion ports 128. Still further, the cover 124 is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes 130 which communicate the inside and the outside of the housing case 118.

The plurality of ventilation holes 130 are provided on an opposite side of the plate part 125 across the plurality of terminal insertion ports 128. Still further, a skirt part 135 is provided at the outer periphery of the base part 134. The skirt part 135 is extended at a substantially right angle from the base part 134. In a state that the cover 124 is attached to the case main body 123, an edge part of the skirt part 135 is in contact with an edge part of the front wall 123c and edge parts of the lateral walls 123e.

Still further, an operation button 150 is attached to the cover 124. The operation button 150 can rotate with taking a supporting shaft 151 as a supporting point, and the operation button 150 is provided with a latch 152. Also, the cover 124 is provided with a hole 153, and a part of the latch 152 is exposed from the hole 153 to the outside of the cover 124 when the cover 241 is attached to the case main body 123. The attachment part 111c is provided with a claw, and the latch 152 is configured to be engaged with the claw.

Next, a schematic configuration of a charger for charging the battery pack 112 will be explained based on FIG. 12. The charger 140 has a main body part 141, and a cooling fan 142 is provided inside the main body part 141. Also, the main body part 141 is provided with a ventilation hole 143 through which wind formed by the cooling fan 142 passes. Further, the main body part 141 is provided with a mount 144 which supports the battery pack 112, and the mount 144 is provided to be tilted with respect to a horizontal line. Also, the mount 144 is provided with a plurality of terminals 145, and the plurality of terminals 145 are connected to the plurality of battery-side terminals 121 when the battery pack 112 is placed on the mount 144.

Further, an operation of attaching the battery pack 112 to the attachment part 111c of the tool main body 111 will be explained. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the battery pack 112 and the tool main body 111 are brought to be close to each other, and the battery pack 112 is moved along the guide rails 127, so that the battery pack 112 is attached to the attachment part 111c of the tool main body 111. In the middle of the attachment of the battery pack 112 to the attachment part 111c, the tool-side terminals 115 are inserted into the terminal insertion ports 128 of the cover 124, so that the tool-side terminals 115 and the battery-side terminals 121 are connected to each other. Then, the latch 152 is engaged with the claw of the attachment part 111c, so that the operation of attaching the battery pack 112 to the attachment part 111c is completed.

When the electric motor 113 of the electric power tool 110 is rotated, the motive power of the electric motor 113 is transmitted to the tip tool 114. A part of the motive power of the electric motor 113 is transmitted to a fan attached to a rotation shaft of the electric motor 113 inside the casing 111a, and the fan is rotated to form a flow of air which cools the electric motor 113. The air is taken from an air-intake hole formed in the casing 111a into the casing 111a, and cools the electric motor 113 and others.

The air which has cooled the electric motor 113 and others is exhausted from an air-exhaust hole formed in the casing 111a to the outside of the casing 111a. In a case that the electric motor 113 is a brushless motor, if an inverter circuit which drives the brushless motor is provided in the casing 111a, the inverter circuit can be cooled. More particularly, a switching element such as a FET which is a control element for controlling the motor is provided in the inverter circuit, and therefore, the switching element can be efficiently cooled.

Also, a part of the air for cooling the electric motor 113 may be configured to be fed into the grip part 111b, into the attachment part 111c, and/or into the housing case 118 through the ventilation hole 130. That is, the ventilation hole 130 functions as an air-inflow hole. The air which has been fed into the housing case 118 passes through the part between the holder 117 and the inner surface of the cover 124 or the part between the holder 117 and the inner surface of the case main body 123, and is exhausted from the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 to the outside of the housing case 118. In specific explanation, the air which has entered the inside of the housing case 118 passes through the part between the holder 117 and an inner surface of the rear wall 123d and the part between the holder 117 and the inner surface of the bottom part 123b, and is exhausted from the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132.

Also, a part of the air which has entered the inside of the housing case 118 passes through the part between the holder 117 and the inner surface of the front wall 123c, and is exhausted from the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132. In this manner, the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 of the case main body 123 function as air-outflow holes. According to this configuration, if a control board of the motor is arranged inside the grip part 111b, the control board can be cooled. If a heat generating part such as a switching element is provided in the control board, this part can be effectively cooled.

As described above, while the air passes through the inside of the housing case 118, heat exchange is performed between the air and the battery cells 116, and the air whose temperature is increased is exhausted to the outside of the housing case 118. Therefore, in a state that the battery pack 112 is attached to the tool main body 111, the battery cells 116 can be cooled. Note that the latch 152 is detached from the claw of the attachment part 111c by pressing the operation button 150 in the state that the battery pack 112 is attached to the tool main body 111,. Then, by relatively moving the battery pack 112 and the tool main body 111 in the opposite direction of the above-described direction, the battery pack 112 can be detached from the tool main body 111.

On the other hand, the battery cells 116 can be charged by placing the battery pack 112 detached from the tool main body 111 onto the mount 144 of the charger 140 as illustrated in FIG. 12. When the battery pack 112 is placed on the mount 144, the battery pack is stopped at a position where the ventilation hole 143 and the ventilation hole 130 of the housing case 118 face each other. When the cooling fan 142 of the charger 140 is rotated at this point, the wind formed by the cooling fan 142 enters the inside of the housing case 118 through the ventilation hole 143 and the ventilation hole 130.

The air which has entered the inside of the housing case 118 passes through the part between the holder 117 and the inner surface of the cover 124 or the part between the holder 117 and the inner surface of the case main body 123, and is exhausted from the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 to the outside of the housing case 118. Therefore, in the battery pack 112, the inside of the housing case 118 is cooled upon the charging to the battery cells 116. More particularly, the air which has entered the part between the rear wall 123d and the holder 117 flows along the inner surface of the bottom part 123b, and then, passes through the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132.

The battery pack 112 is provided with the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 on a front side in the direction of the air flow which flows along the inner surface of the bottom part 123b. Also, the drainage hole 133 is provided on a lateral side in the direction of the air flow, and the opening area of the drainage hole 133 is smaller than the opening area of the ventilation hole 132. Therefore, a resistance of the air flow which passes through the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 can be decreased as much as possible. That is, in the battery pack 112, the action of linearly exhausting the air inside the housing case 118 toward the outside of the housing case 118 is smoothly performed. Therefore, decrease in the cooling performance for the battery cells 116 can be suppressed.

Incidentally, in any of the cases that the battery pack 112 is attached to the tool main body 111, that the battery pack is detached from the tool main body 111, and that the battery pack is attached to the charger 140, there is a possibility that the foreign substances outside the housing case 118 enter the inside of the housing case 118 from at least one location of a gap between the case main body 123 and the cover 124, the ventilation holes 130, 131, and 132, a gap between the cover 124 and the latch 152, and a gap between the operation button 150 and the cover 124. The foreign substances include water, dust, mud, etc. Since the electric power tool 110 is a cordless type, the electric power tool 110 can be used regardless of the place. That is, the electric power tool 110 is used in horrible environment such as an environment full of powder dust such as a building demolition work site, rainy weather, and others.

Meanwhile, if the battery pack 112 has a water-proof structure which covers the opening of the holder 117 or the gap between the insulating member 119 and the opening edge of the holder 117 with a sheet member having a water-proof property, silicon, clay, or others, the short-circuit between the battery cells 116, corrosion of the electrodes, etc. can be prevented even if water enters the inside of the housing case 118.

Further, in the battery pack 112, the case main body 123 is provided with the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132, and a part of the inner peripheral surface of the ventilation hole 132 is arranged on the same plane as the inner surface of the bottom part 123b. Here, it is assumed that the battery pack 112 is placed on an object 160 as illustrated in FIG. 10 while the battery pack 112 has been detached from the tool main body 111 or the battery pack 112 is attached to the tool main body 111. The object 160 is a solid material; such as a table, a working table, or a road. Accordingly, the bottom part 123b of the case main body 123 is in contact with the object 160, and the inner surface of the bottom part 123b is substantially horizontal. Therefore, the water existing inside the housing case 118 flows along the inner surface of the bottom part 123b, and is drained to the outside through the ventilation hole 132.

Therefore, the remaining of the water inside the housing case 118 can be prevented. Further, the short-circuit between the battery cells 116, corrosion of the battery cells 116, etc. can be prevented. Still further, in the battery pack 112 of the present embodiment, the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 are provided in the front wall 123c. Therefore, when the battery pack 112 is placed on the object 160, the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 are not covered with the object 160, so that reduction in the drainage performance can be prevented.

Still further, the ventilation hole 132 among the plurality of

ventilation holes

131 and 132 plays both of a role as the passage through which the air inside the housing case 118 is exhausted outside and a role as the drainage hole through which the water inside the housing case 118 is drained to the outside of the housing case 118. Also, when the battery pack 112 is placed on the object 160, there is a possibility that one lateral wall 123e of the two lateral walls 123e is tilted in a direction to be lower than the other lateral wall 123e. Further, in the battery pack 112, there is a possibility that the two lateral walls 123e are alternately lowered with taking a substantially-center part of the bottom part 123b as a supporting point.

By tilting the battery pack 112 as described above, a part of the water existing inside the housing case 118 can be moved along the inner surface of the bottom part 123b, pass through the drainage hole 133, and be drained to the outside of the housing case 118. Note that a part of the inner peripheral surface of the drainage hole 133 and a part of the inner peripheral surface of each of the ventilation hole 132 are arranged on the same plane as the inner surface of the bottom part 123b. However, the other part thereof may be arranged below the inner surface of the bottom part 123b. That is, the drainage hole 133 may be provided in the lateral wall 123e, and the ventilation hole 132 may be provided in the front wall 123c. And, as long as the drainage hole 133 and the ventilation hole 132 are adjacent to, that is, are continuously provided from the inner surface of the bottom part 123b, the water inside the housing case 118 can be efficiently drained to the outside of the housing case 118.

Next, another example of the battery pack 112 of the present embodiment will be explained based on FIG. 13. A drainage hole 136 which penetrate through the skirt part 135 of the cover 124 in the thickness direction is provided. The drainage hole 136 is provided at a location of the skirt part 135 which corresponds to the front wall 123c. The other configuration of the battery pack 112 illustrated in FIG. 13 is the same as the configuration of the above-described battery pack 112. By supporting the battery pack 112 illustrated in FIG. 13 by the mount 144 of the charger 140 illustrated in FIG. 12, the cover 124 is positioned to be lower than the case main body 123, so that the cover 124 is in contact with the mount 144. As a result, the base part 134 is in a tilted state with respect to the horizontal line.

Therefore, a part of the water existing inside the housing case 118 is moved along the inner surfaces of the plate part 125 and the base part 134, passes through the drainage hole 136, and is drained to the outside of the housing case 118. In this manner, by placing the battery pack 112 illustrated in FIG. 13 on the charger 140 so that the cover 124 is positioned to be lower than the case main body 123, the water inside the housing case 118 can be drained to the outside of the housing case 118. Note that a part of the inner peripheral surface of the drainage hole 136 can be arranged on the substantially same plane as the inner surface of the cover 124, more specifically, as the inner surface of the plate part 125 or the inner surface of the base part 134. By forming such a configuration, the water existing inside the housing case 118 is flowed along the inner surface of the cover 124 and is easily drained directly from the drainage hole 136 to the outside. Further, in the same components in the battery pack 112 of FIG. 13 as those of the above-described battery pack 112, the same effects as those of the above-described battery pack 112 can be obtained.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, water existing inside a housing case is flowed along an inner surface of a bottom part, and is drained from a first through-hole to outside of the housing case. Therefore, remaining of the water inside the housing case can be prevented.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, water existing inside a housing case is flowed toward a boundary part between a bottom part and a first wall part, and is drained through a first through-hole to outside of the housing case.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, water existing inside a housing case can be also drained from a second through-hole to outside of the housing case.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, water existing inside a housing case is drained through a third through-hole to outside of the housing case.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, water existing inside a housing case is flowed along an inner surface of a bottom part, and is drained through a third through-hole to outside of the housing case.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, when air which has entered inside of a housing case is exhausted through a first through-hole to outside of the housing case, a resistance of air flow can be reduced as much as possible. Therefore, when the air is caused to enter the inside of the housing case to cool the battery cells, reduction in a cooling performance can be suppressed.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, water existing inside a housing case is flowed along an inner surface of a bottom part, and is drained from a fourth through-hole to outside of the housing case. Therefore, remaining of the water inside the housing case can be prevented.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, water existing inside a housing case smoothly enters a fourth through-hole from an inner surface of a bottom part, and is drained to outside of the housing case.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, water existing inside a housing case enters a fourth through-hole along an inner surface of a bottom part, and is drained to outside of the housing case.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, water existing inside a housing case can be also drained from a fifth through-hole to outside of the housing case.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, water existing inside a housing case is drained through a fifth through-hole to outside of the housing case.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, water existing inside a housing case is flowed along an inner surface of a bottom part, and is drained through a sixth through-hole to outside of the housing case.

In a battery pack of the second embodiment, when a housing case is placed on an object, a part of an inner surface of a first drainage hole is positioned on the same plane as an inner surface of a bottom part. Therefore, water existing inside the housing case is moved along the inner surface of the bottom part, passes through the first drainage hole, and is drained to outside. Therefore, remaining of the water inside the housing case can be prevented.

In a battery pack of the second embodiment, air outside a housing case passes through a ventilation hole and enters inside of the housing case, and the air which has entered the inside of the housing case passes through a first drainage hole and is exhausted to outside of the housing case. That is, the first drainage hole can be commonly used as an exhaust hole of the air.

In a battery pack of second embodiment, water existing inside a housing case can be drained from not only a first drainage hole but also a second drainage hole.

In a battery pack of the second embodiment, air which has entered inside of a housing case passes through a first drainage hole and is exhausted to outside of the housing case, a resistance of air flow can be reduced as much as possible. Therefore, when the air is caused to enter the inside of the housing case to cool battery cells, reduction in a cooling performance can be suppressed.

In an electric device of the second embodiment, when a battery pack is supported so that a cover is positioned to be lower than a case main body, water inside a housing case can be drained to outside of the housing case.

In an electric device of the second embodiment, when a housing case is placed on an object in a state that a battery pack is attached to an electric-device main body, a part of an inner surface of a first drainage hole is positioned on the same plane as an inner surface of a bottom part. Therefore, water existing inside the housing case is moved along the inner surface of the bottom part, passes through the first drainage hole, and is drained to outside. Therefore, remaining of the water inside the housing case can be prevented.

Here, as explanation of a correspondence relation between the configuration explained in the second embodiment and the configuration of the present invention, the tool main body 111 corresponds to an electric-device main body of the present invention, the front wall 123c corresponds to a first wall part, a fourth wall part, and a fifth wall part of the present invention, the lateral wall 123e corresponds to a second wall part, a third wall part, and a sixth wall part of the present invention, the ventilation hole 131 corresponds to a second through-hole and a sixth through-hole of the present invention, the ventilation hole 132 corresponds to a first through-hole, a fifth through-hole, and a first drainage hole of the present invention, the ventilation hole 130 corresponds to a ventilation hole of the present invention, the drainage hole 136 corresponds to a third drainage hole of the present invention, and the drainage hole 133 corresponds to a third through-hole, a fourth through-hole, and a second drainage hole of the present invention.

The electric device to/from which the battery pack of the present invention is attached/detached includes not only the above-described electric power tools but also a grinder, a sander, a nail driver, a (powered) screw driver, a tacker, a dust collector, a blower, a pump, a high-pressure cleaning machine, a chainsaw, a grass cutter, a hedge trimmer, a (rotary) tiller, and others. That is, the electric device of the present invention includes a device in which an electric motor is rotated by electric power of a battery pack and in which the rotary motion is converted into at least either a reciprocating motion or a rotary motion of an operating member. Also, the electric device of the present invention includes a torch light and others. That is, the electric device of the present invention includes a lighting device in which electric energy supplied from the battery pack is converted into optical energy.

The present invention can be utilized in a battery pack which is attachable/detachable to/from a portable electric-device main body, and in a portable electric device having the electric-device main body and the battery pack.

Claims

A battery pack provided with a housing case which houses a battery cell having an electrode and which is attachable/detachable to/from an electric-device main body,
the battery pack characterized by:
a holder which is provided in the housing case and which has a holding part for housing the battery cell; and
a cover member which covers the holding part.
The battery pack according to claim 1,
wherein the holding part includes a holding hole, the holding hole has an opening, and the electrode is arranged at the opening.
The battery pack according to claim 2,
wherein the battery cell has a body part having a cylindrical shape and the electrode provided on an end of the body part in a direction along a center line thereof, and the holding hole is formed to have a cylindrical shape.
The battery pack according to claim 2,
wherein a seal member which covers a gap between the cover member and a peripheral edge of the opening is provided.
The battery pack according to claim 4,
wherein a window part where a lead wire connected to the battery cell is arranged is formed between the cover member and the holder.
The battery pack according to claim 5,
wherein the seal member covers the window part.
The battery pack according to claim 1,
wherein the holder is provided with a battery-side terminal connected to a device-side terminal provided on the electric-device main body, and
the housing case has a terminal insertion port which is communicated with inside and outside of the housing case and to which the battery-side terminal is inserted.
An electric device having a battery pack in which a battery cell is housed in a housing case and an electric-device main body to/from which the battery pack is attachable/detachable,
the battery pack characterized by:
a holder which is provided inside the housing case and which has a holding part for housing the battery cell; and
a cover member which covers the holding part.
A battery pack provided with a housing case which houses a battery cell and which is attachable/detachable to/from an electric-device main body,
the housing case characterized by:
a bottom part;
a first wall part provided continuously from the bottom part; and
a first through-hole which penetrates through the first wall part, and
a part of an inner peripheral surface of the first through-hole being positioned to be adjacent to an inner surface of the bottom part.
The battery pack according to claim 9,
wherein the first through-hole is positioned at a boundary part between the bottom part and the first wall part.
The battery pack according to claim 9,
wherein a second through-hole is provided so as to penetrate through the first wall part and so as to be at a position distant from the bottom part farther than the first through-hole.
The battery pack according to claim 9,
wherein the housing case has a second wall part provided continuously from the bottom part and the first wall part, and a third through-hole which penetrates through the second wall part.
The battery pack according to claim 12,
wherein a part of an inner peripheral surface of the third through-hole is positioned to be adjacent to an inner surface of the bottom part.
The battery pack according to claim 12,
wherein an opening area of the third through-hole is smaller than an opening area of the first through-hole.
A battery pack provided with a housing case which houses a battery cell and which is attachable/detachable to/from an electric-device main body,
the housing case characterized by:
a bottom part;
a third wall part provided continuously from the bottom part so as to face an end of the battery cell; and
a fourth through-hole which penetrates through the third wall part.
The battery pack according to claim 15,
wherein a part of an inner peripheral surface of the fourth through-hole is positioned to be adjacent to an inner surface of the bottom part.
The battery pack according to claim 15,
wherein a part of an inner peripheral surface of the fourth through-hole is positioned on the substantially same plane as an inner surface of the bottom part.
The battery pack according to claim 15,
wherein the housing case has a fourth wall part provided continuously from the bottom part and the third wall part, and a fifth through-hole which penetrates through the fourth wall part, and
a part of an inner peripheral surface of the fifth through-hole is positioned to be adjacent to an inner surface of the bottom part.
The battery pack according to claim 18,
wherein a sixth through-hole is provided so as to penetrate through the fourth wall part and so as to be at a position distant from the bottom part farther than the fifth through-hole.
A battery pack provided with a housing case which houses a battery cell and which is attachable/detachable to/from an electric-device main body,
the housing case characterized by a bottom part which is in contact with an object on which the housing case is placed and a fifth wall part which is provided continuously from the bottom part,
the fifth wall part being provided with a first drainage hole which drains water inside the housing case to outside of the housing case, and
a part of an inner peripheral surface of the first drainage hole being positioned on the substantially same plane as an inner surface of the bottom part.
The battery pack according to claim 20,
wherein the housing case is provided with a ventilation hole through which air of the outside of the housing case passes when the air enters the inside of the housing case, and
the air which has entered the inside of the housing case through the ventilation hole passes through the first drainage hole and is drained to the outside of the housing case.
The battery pack according to claim 20,
wherein a sixth wall part continuously from the bottom part is provided,
the sixth wall part is provided with a second drainage hole which drains the water inside the housing case to outside of the housing case, and
a part of an inner peripheral surface of the second drainage hole is positioned on the substantially same plane as an inner surface of the bottom part.
The battery pack according to claim 22,
wherein an opening area of the second drainage hole is smaller than an opening area of the first drainage hole.
The battery pack according to claim 22,
wherein the housing case is provided with a case main body which houses the battery cell and which has an opening, and a cover which covers the opening of the case main body,
the bottom part and the fifth wall part configure a part of the case main body, and
the cover is provided with a second drainage hole which drains the water inside the housing case to outside of the housing case.
An electric device having a battery pack in which a battery cell is housed in a housing case and an electric-device main body to/from which the battery pack is attachable/detachable,
the battery pack characterized by:
a holder which is provided inside the housing case and which has a holding part for housing the battery cell; and
a cover member which covers the holding part.