JP7482158B2 - Battery pack connection structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a battery pack connection structure for electrically connecting a battery and an electrical device.

Products such as agricultural machinery, portable generators, floodlights, bicycles, motorcycles, and other small riding equipment are becoming electrified. As products become more electrified, the use of batteries as a power source is becoming more widespread. To connect batteries to electrical equipment, a battery pack connection structure designed by the battery (electrical equipment) development manufacturer is generally used.

For example, Patent Document 1 is an example of prior art relating to a connection structure for a battery pack. Patent Document 1 has a battery case that houses a battery, and a connector portion that is located at the back, farthest from the opening of the battery case. The connector portion has a structure that rotates the battery side terminal portion of the battery and the case side terminal portion that is connected to the battery side terminal portion between a connection position and a retracted position. It also has a locking mechanism that fixes the battery to the connector portion.

Japanese Patent No. 6493553

As the use of batteries and electrically-powered devices becomes more widespread, the types of batteries available are becoming more diverse. However, consumers need to purchase batteries that are compatible with the electrically-powered devices they want to use, which can result in waste.

For example, the battery pack connection structure in Patent Document 1 is such that the battery case can only accommodate cylindrical batteries and cannot accommodate rectangular batteries.

There is a demand for a standardized connection structure for battery packs. A standardized battery pack connection structure is required to have a structure that does not restrict the external shape of the battery to be connected. In addition, a standardized battery pack connection structure is required to be safe, preventing batteries from being connected in the wrong orientation. Furthermore, the battery pack connection structure is also required to be easy to attach and detach so that it can be frequently attached and detached.

The present invention aims to solve the above problems.

One aspect of the disclosure below is a battery connection structure that includes a first connection member electrically connected to either a battery or an electric device, and a second connection member electrically connected to either the battery or the electric device, and the first connection member and the second connection member are connected by a rotational movement to electrically connect the battery and the electric device, and further includes a fitting portion that is located at the center and outer periphery of the first connection member and aligns the axial positions of the first connection member and the second connection member, and a plurality of connector portions that are spaced apart in the circumferential direction around the center of rotation of the rotational movement in a plan view, and are rotationally asymmetric with respect to the center of rotation.

The battery pack connection structure of the above aspect does not include any member in the first connector portion and the second connector portion that protrudes toward the battery and interferes with the battery casing, so a structure can be realized that does not restrict the external shape of the battery to be connected. In addition, the above battery pack connection structure can prevent connection in the wrong orientation by providing connector portions asymmetrically in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the above battery pack connection structure allows electrical and mechanical connection by a rotational operation only, which also improves the ease of attachment and detachment operations.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connected state of a battery pack connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first connecting member of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second connection member of FIG. 1 . 4A is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view along the radial direction near the connecting block in the battery pack connection structure of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view along the circumferential direction near the second electrode connector portion in the battery pack connection structure of FIG. 1. 5A to 5D are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the locking mechanism. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an application example of the connection structure of the battery pack in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack connection structure 10 according to the embodiment has a first connection member 12 and a second connection member 14. As shown in FIG. 6, the first connection member 12 is electrically and mechanically connected to electric devices 92 and 92A that operate by receiving power from batteries 90, 90A, 90B, and 90C. The electric device 92 is, for example, an inverter that drives a motor. The electric device 92A is, for example, a portable generator. The first connection member 12 is integrally connected to the electric device 92 or the electric device 92A. In addition, the second connection member 14 is electrically (or/and mechanically) connected to the batteries 90 and 90A. The second connection member 14 may be electrically connected to the terminals of the existing batteries 90B and 90C via an adapter having wiring. In addition, the second connection member 14 may be integrally joined to the batteries 90 and 90A. The battery pack connection structure 10 does not restrict the shape of the battery 90, and is therefore used to connect various batteries 90 and electric devices 92.

1, the connection structure 10 has a low cylindrical shape. The first connection member 12 and the second connection member 14 have a circular shape in a plan view. The first connection member 12 and the second connection member 14 can be attached and detached by rotating the second connection member 14 in a circumferential direction relative to the first connection member 12. In the illustrated configuration example, the second connection member 14 has a handle 16 protruding from the cover body 14a. The handle 16 makes it easy for the user to grip and rotate the second connection member 14. The handle 16 has an unlock button 18. When the unlock button 18 is pressed, the lock between the second connection member 14 and the first connection member 12 is released, and the second connection member 14 can be rotated and removed. When the second connection member 14 is removed, the first connection portion 20 of the first connection member 12 shown in FIG. 2 appears. The handle 16 may be omitted when the second connection member 14 is connected integrally with the battery 90.

2, the first connection member 12 has a first connection portion 20 formed on the end surface of the circular support plate 22 on the second direction side. Although not particularly limited, the circular support plate 22 may constitute a part of the electrical device 92 (see FIG. 6). The first connection portion 20 has a cylindrical portion 24, a circumferential wall 26, three first connector portions 28, a plurality of claw portions 30, and a lock portion 31. The cylindrical portion 24 is a cylindrical member located at the center of the first connection member 12. The cylindrical portion 24 has a circular shape concentric with the support plate 22 in a plan view. The diameter of the cylindrical portion 24 is about 1/3 to 1/2 the diameter of the support plate 22. The cylindrical portion 24 protrudes in the thickness direction of the support plate 22. The cylindrical portion 24 protrudes the highest in the second direction among the first connection portions 20. Therefore, the end of the cylindrical portion 24 in the second direction is located in the second direction further than the circumferential wall 26 and the first connector portion 28. The periphery of the end of the cylindrical portion 24 in the second direction has a smoothly curved surface.

The circumferential wall 26 is located slightly inside the outer periphery of the support plate 22. In other words, the support plate 22 has a bulging portion that bulges outward (radially) concentrically with the circumferential wall 26. The circumferential wall 26 has a circular shape that is concentric with the support plate 22 and the cylindrical portion 24 in a plan view. The circumferential wall 26 is located at a position away from the cylindrical portion 24. The circumferential wall 26 forms a connection groove 32 between the cylindrical portion 24 and the circumferential wall 26. The circumferential wall 26 protrudes in a wall-like shape at a predetermined height from the support plate 22 in the second direction. The protruding height of the circumferential wall 26 from the support plate 22 is lower than that of the cylindrical portion 24. The cylindrical portion 24 and the circumferential wall 26 constitute the fitting portion 25. The fitting portion 25 serves as a reference for matching the central positions of the first connecting member 12 and the second connecting member 14.

The first connector portion 28 extends in the radial direction of the support plate 22. The first connector portion 28 has a fan-like shape in a plan view. The first connector portion 28 occupies an angular range of, for example, 30° in the circumferential direction. The first connector portion 28 is formed across the cylindrical portion 24 and the circumferential wall 26, and is integrally connected to the cylindrical portion 24 and the circumferential wall 26. The first connector portion 28 increases the rigidity of the first connection portion 20 by connecting the cylindrical portion 24 and the circumferential wall 26.

The first connector portion 28 has two first electrode connector portions 38, 40 and one first signal connector portion 44. The first electrode connector portion 38 has a positive electrode terminal 36, and the first electrode connector portion 40 has a negative electrode terminal 36. The positive and negative electrode terminals 36 may be reversed from the above example. The first electrode connector portions 38, 40 are arranged circumferentially at an angle of 180°. The first signal connector portion 44 has a signal terminal group 42. The first signal connector portion 44 is arranged midway between the two first electrode connector portions 38, 40 in the circumferential direction.

The first electrode connector parts 38, 40 and the first signal connector part 44 each have a support wall 46 and a top plate part 48. The support wall 46 protrudes from the support plate 22 in the second direction. The support wall 46 extends in the radial direction and has a pair of end faces 46a, 46b on both sides. The support wall 46 has a first end face 46a in the counterclockwise direction in a plan view and a second end face 46b in the clockwise direction. The first end face 46a has an electrode terminal 36 or a signal terminal group 42. The electrode terminal 36 extends in the counterclockwise direction in the circumferential direction from the first end face 46a of the support wall 46 of the first electrode connector parts 38, 40. The signal terminal group 42 also extends in the counterclockwise direction in the circumferential direction from the first end face 46a of the first signal connector part 44.

The electrode terminal 36 is disposed at the center in the height direction and the center in the radial direction of the first end face 46a. The electrode terminal 36 is disposed away from the support plate 22, the cylindrical portion 24, and the circumferential wall 26. The signal terminal group 42 is disposed at the center in the height direction and the center in the radial direction of the first end face 46a. All terminals belonging to the signal terminal group 42 are disposed away from the support plate 22, the cylindrical portion 24, and the circumferential wall 26. The areas near the support plate 22, the cylindrical portion 24, and the circumferential wall 26 are areas where condensed water or infiltrated rainwater is likely to get in. The electrode terminal 36 and the signal terminal group 42 are disposed away from areas where water is likely to get in.

The top plate portion 48 extends from the end of the support wall 46 in the second direction toward the end face 46a in the circumferential direction. As a result, the top plate portion 48 completely covers the second direction side of the electrode terminal 36 (or the signal terminal group 42). The top plate portion 48 has, for example, a 30° fan shape in a plan view. The top plate portion 48 prevents short-circuiting of the electrode terminal 36 (or the signal terminal group 42) by directing the flow of condensation water or infiltrated rainwater to a position away from the electrode terminal 36 (or the signal terminal group 42).

The circumferential wall 26 has a communication hole 34 at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction. The communication hole 34 is formed adjacent to the boundary between the circumferential wall 26 and the support plate 22. The communication hole 34 penetrates the circumferential wall 26 in the circumferential direction and allows condensation or rainwater that accumulates inside the first connection part 20 to be discharged. The communication hole 34 is arranged at three positions near the first electrode connector parts 38, 40 and the first signal connector part 44. From the viewpoint of preventing short circuits, it is preferable to arrange the communication hole 34 at a position in the connection groove 32 that is farthest from the electrode terminal 36 or the signal terminal group 42. Therefore, the communication hole 34 in this embodiment is arranged at a position adjacent to the second end surface 46b of the support wall 46 of the first electrode connector parts 38, 40 and the first signal connector part 44. In addition, the communication hole 34 allows air to flow between the inside and outside of the first connection part 20, making it easy to attach and detach the second connection member 14.

The multiple claws 30 have outer claws 30a protruding inward from the circumferential wall 26 and inner claws 30b protruding outward from the cylindrical portion 24. The outer claws 30a and inner claws 30b are arranged in the connecting groove 32 at intervals in the circumferential direction. The outer claws 30a and inner claws 30b are arranged in two rows spaced apart in the axial direction. The outer claws 30a and inner claws 30b have the same circumferential angular range, and form pairs at each angular position. The connecting groove 32 has a narrow radial width at the location where the pairs of outer claws 30a and inner claws 30b are arranged. The claws 30 are distributed rotationally asymmetrically around the rotation center. Rotationally asymmetric means the opposite concept of rotational symmetry (overlapping at a rotation angle of 360/n (n:2 or more)), that is, the first connector portion 28 and the claws 30 are arranged so that they do not overlap at a rotation angle of 360° or less.

The locking portion 31 is disposed at a predetermined circumferential position of the connection groove 32. The locking portion 31 extends radially and bridges the cylindrical portion 24 and the circumferential wall 26. The locking portion 31 is formed integrally with the cylindrical portion 24 and the circumferential wall 26. The locking portion 31 has a locking hole 31a that penetrates in the circumferential direction. The locking portion 31 restricts the rotation of the second connection member 14 by engaging with a claw member 72a described later.

The first connection member 12 is integrally joined to the electrical device 92 to which the support plate 22 is to be connected. The first connection member 12 also has wiring connected to each of the first electrode connector portions 38, 40 and the first signal connector portion 44, although not specifically shown. The wiring of the first connection member 12 is electrically connected to the electrical circuit of the electrical device 92.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second connecting member 14 has a cover 14a, a side wall 14b, and a second connecting portion 20A. The cover 14a is formed of a thin plate having a disk-like shape in a plan view. The cover 14a has a recess 142 in the center of the inner surface 141. The recess 142 is concentric with the cover 14a in a plan view, and is recessed in the second direction more than the inner surface 141. The recess 142 receives the end of the cylindrical portion 24 in the second direction when the second connecting member 14 is connected to the first connecting member 12.

The side wall 14b forms a cylindrical wall extending in a first direction from the outer periphery of the lid body 14a. The side wall 14b is formed integrally with the lid body 14a. As shown in FIG. 1, the side wall 14b covers the periphery of the battery pack connection structure 10, thereby preventing foreign matter such as water or dust from entering the first connection part 20 and the second connection part 20A.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second connection portion 20A is located inside the side wall 14b. The second connection portion 20A has three second connector portions 28A and a plurality of coupling blocks 50. The second connector portion 28A has female second electrode connector portions 38A, 40A that are connected to the electrode terminal 36, and a female second signal connector portion 44A that is connected to the signal terminal group 42. The second electrode connector portion 38A and the second electrode connector portion 40A are arranged at positions 180° apart in the circumferential direction. The second signal connector portion 44A is arranged at a predetermined position between the pair of second electrode connector portions 38A, 40A. The three second connector portions 28A are arranged rotationally asymmetrically in the circumferential direction of the rotation center of the pivoting operation.

Each of the three second connector parts 28A is formed in a fan shape. The inner peripheral part 52 of the second connector part 28A has a curved surface with a radius that is approximately the same as or slightly larger than the radius of the side surface of the cylindrical part 24 of the first connection member 12. The outer peripheral part 54 of the second connector part 28A has a curved surface with a radius that is approximately the same as or slightly smaller than the radius of the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall 26 of the first connection member 12. The second electrode connector parts 38A and 40A have terminal holes 58 that receive electrode terminals 36 on end faces 56 located on the counterclockwise side with respect to the center of rotation. In addition, the second signal connector part 44A has multiple terminal holes 62 that receive signal terminal groups 42 on end faces 60 located on the counterclockwise side with respect to the center of rotation.

A plurality of connecting blocks 50 are arranged in a line in the circumferential direction of the three second connector portions 28A. When the first connecting member 12 is positioned so as to be attachable to the second connecting member 14, the connecting blocks 50 are arranged at positions corresponding to the portions of the connecting grooves 32 of the first connecting member 12 where the claw portions 30 are not formed. Each connecting block 50 has a fan-shaped shape. The inner peripheral portion 52 of the connecting block 50 has a curved surface with approximately the same radius as the side surface of the cylindrical portion 24. The outer peripheral portion 54 of the connecting block 50 has a curved surface with approximately the same radius as the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall 26. The plurality of connecting blocks 50 and the three second connector portions 28A are arranged in a donut-shaped region concentric with the center of the second connecting member 14. The inner peripheral portions 52 of the plurality of connecting blocks 50 and the three second connector portions 28A receive the tip of the cylindrical portion 24, thereby facilitating the axial alignment of the first connecting member 12 and the second connecting member 14. The recess 142 of the second connection member 14 receives the tip of the cylindrical portion 24. The entire inner circumference of the recess 142 abuts against the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion 24, thereby contributing to accurate axial alignment between the first connection member 12 and the second connection member 14.

The multiple connection blocks 50 and the three second connector parts 28A have inner engagement grooves 64, 66 and outer engagement grooves 68, 70. The inner engagement grooves 64, 66 are two grooves formed in the inner periphery 52 located near the center of the lid body 14a. The inner periphery 52 is the inner end of the multiple connection blocks 50 and the three second connector parts 28A, and is a part that faces the cylindrical part 24 when the second connection member 14 is connected to the first connection member 12. The inner periphery 52 has a surface perpendicular to the inner surface 141 of the lid body 14a. The inner engagement grooves 64, 66 extend in a ring shape in the circumferential direction as grooves that are recessed outward from the inner periphery 52. One inner engagement groove 64 is disposed adjacent to the inner surface 141 of the lid body 14a. The other inner engagement groove 66 is disposed spaced apart from the inner engagement groove 64 in the first axial direction. When the second connection member 14 is connected to the first connection member 12, the inner engagement grooves 64, 66 engage with the inner peripheral claw 30b.

The outer engagement grooves 68, 70 are two grooves formed on the outer periphery 54 of the connecting block 50 and the second connector portion 28A. The outer periphery 54 is the outer periphery end of the connecting block 50 and the second connector portion 28A, and faces the inner periphery of the side wall 14b. The outer periphery 54 has a surface perpendicular to the inner surface 141, and abuts against the inner surface of the circumferential wall 26 of the first connecting member 12 when the second connecting member 14 is connected to the first connecting member 12. The outer engagement grooves 68, 70 are formed in a groove shape recessed inwardly with respect to the outer periphery 54, and extend in a ring shape in the circumferential direction. One outer engagement groove 68 is disposed adjacent to the inner surface 141 of the lid body 14a. The other outer engagement groove 70 is disposed spaced apart from the outer engagement groove 68 in the first direction. When the second connecting member 14 is connected to the first connecting member 12, the outer engagement grooves 68, 70 engage with the outer periphery claws 30a.

The second connection portion 20A further has a locking mechanism 72. The locking mechanism 72 is attached to the connecting block 50 disposed near the locking portion 31 of the first connection member 12. As shown in FIG. 5A, the locking mechanism 72 has a claw member 72a that can be displaced in the axial direction. When the second connection member 14 is connected to the first connection member 12, the claw member 72a has a claw piece 72b that engages with the locking portion 31. As shown in FIG. 5A, the claw member 72a is biased in the second direction by a spring 72c. The claw member 72a is displaced integrally with the unlocking button 18. When the unlocking button 18 is pressed, the claw member 72a is displaced in the first direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the side wall 14b of the second connecting member 14 may have a positioning mark 74 at a predetermined location. The support plate 22 of the first connecting member 12 may have a positioning mark 76 on the outer periphery. These positioning marks 74, 76 facilitate circumferential phase alignment of the first connecting member 12 and the second connecting member 14.

The battery pack connection structure 10 of this embodiment has the above configuration. The battery pack connection structure 10 functions as follows.

The connection process of the battery pack connection structure 10 includes an alignment step in which the first connection portion 20 (Fig. 2) of the first connection member 12 and the second connection portion 20A (Fig. 3) of the second connection member 14 are brought into face-to-face contact. The first connection member 12 and the second connection member 14 are rotated appropriately to align their phases. The claw portions 30, which are arranged asymmetrically in rotation, the coupling block 50, and the three second connector portions 28A prevent the first connection member 12 and the second connection member 14 from being connected in the wrong phase.

In this step (alignment step), when phase alignment is completed, the tip of the cylindrical portion 24 of the first connecting member 12 enters inside the inner periphery 52 of the multiple connecting blocks 50 and the three second connector portions 28A of the second connecting member 14. As a result, the axial alignment of the center positions of the first connecting member 12 and the second connecting member 14 is completed. The rounded curved surface (see FIG. 2) of the periphery of the tip (upper end) of the cylindrical portion 24 facilitates insertion into the inner periphery 52 of the cylindrical portion 24. In addition, the recess 142 (FIG. 3) of the second connecting member 14 receives the tip of the cylindrical portion 24 (FIG. 2). The entire inner periphery of the recess 142 abuts against the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 24, thereby contributing to accurate axial alignment of the first connecting member 12 and the second connecting member 14. The movement of the second connection member 14 in the first axial direction is stopped when the multiple connection blocks 50 and the three second connector parts 28A come into contact with the claw parts 30 of the first connection member 12 and the end faces of the first connector parts 28 in the second direction. In addition, the side walls 14b of the second connection member 14 come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the circumferential wall 26 of the first connection member 12 to protect the outer periphery of the circumferential wall 26.

Next, the connection process of the battery pack connection structure 10 proceeds to an alignment confirmation step as necessary after completing the alignment step between the first connection member 12 and the second connection member 14. This alignment confirmation step is performed as a rotation direction confirmation task. This step is performed by the user rotating the second connection member 14 clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the first connection member 12. Rotation in an incorrect direction is restricted and prevented by the coupling block 50 of the second connection member 14 abutting against the support wall 46 of the first connection member 12. This prevents rotation of the second connection member 14 in an incorrect direction. Note that the alignment confirmation step can be omitted in the connection process of the battery pack connection structure 10.

After the alignment step is completed, or after the alignment confirmation step is completed, the connection process of the battery pack connection structure 10 proceeds to an engagement step in which the second connection member 14 is rotated clockwise relative to the first connection member 12. In this step, as shown in FIG. 4A, the inner peripheral claws 30b enter the inner engagement grooves 64, 66 of the connecting block 50 of the second connection member 14. Also, the outer peripheral claws 30a enter the outer engagement grooves 68, 70 of the connecting block 50. In this way, the connecting block 50 engages with the first connection member 12 via the claw portions 30.

Furthermore, following the engagement step, the connection process of the battery pack connection structure 10 proceeds to a connection step in which the second electrode connector portion 38A of the second connection member 14 is electrically and mechanically connected to the first electrode connector portion 38 of the first connection member 12, as shown in FIG. 4B.

Furthermore, following the connection step, the connection process of the battery pack connection structure 10 proceeds to a connection lock step in which the lock mechanism 72 engages with the lock portion 31 to lock the second connection member 14 to the first connection member 12, as shown in Figs. 5A to 5D. In this manner, as shown in Fig. 1, in the battery pack connection structure 10, the first connection member 12 and the second connection member 14 are electrically and mechanically connected by a rotational movement.

The first connection member 12 and the second connection member 14 of the battery pack connection structure 10 are removed (the process of removing the battery pack connection structure 10) by rotating the second connection member 14 counterclockwise while pressing the unlock button 18 in FIG. 1, and then pulling out the second connection member 14 in the second direction. The communication hole 34 (FIG. 2) allows air to flow into the inside of the first connection part 20, making it easier to remove the second connection member 14.

The above embodiments are summarized below.

In one embodiment, a battery pack connection structure 10 includes a first connection member 12 electrically connected to either a battery 90 or an electrical device 92, and a second connection member 14 electrically connected to the other of the battery and the electrical device, and the first connection member and the second connection member are connected by a rotational movement to electrically connect the battery and the electrical device. The battery pack connection structure further includes a fitting portion 25 located at the center and outer periphery of the first connection member and aligning the axial positions of the first connection member and the second connection member, and a plurality of connector portions 28, 28A that are spaced apart in the circumferential direction around the center of rotation of the rotational movement in a plan view and that are rotationally asymmetric with respect to the center of rotation.

The above-mentioned battery pack connection structure does not include any members in the first and second connection members that protrude toward the battery and interfere with the battery casing, so a structure that does not restrict the shape of the target battery can be realized. In addition, the above-mentioned battery pack connection structure can prevent connection in the wrong orientation by providing connector portions asymmetrically in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the above-mentioned battery pack connection structure allows electrical and mechanical connection by a rotation operation, which also improves the ease of attachment and detachment operations.

In the above-mentioned battery pack connection structure, the fitting portion has a cylindrical portion 24 formed at the center of the first connection member and a circumferential wall 26 along the outer periphery of the first connection member, and the multiple connector portions have a first connector portion 28 formed on the first connection member, and the first connector portion may be integrally formed across the cylindrical portion and the circumferential wall. This battery pack connection structure includes a cylindrical portion and a circumferential wall, improving the rigidity of the connection structure.

In the above-described battery pack connection structure, the first connector portion may have a radially extending support wall 46 and a connection terminal on a first end surface 46a of the support wall 46. This battery pack connection structure can prevent short circuits by positioning the connection terminal away from areas where water is likely to get in.

In the above-described battery pack connection structure, the first connector portion may have a top plate portion 48 that extends from the end of the support wall toward the first end face in the circumferential direction to cover the connection terminal. The top plate portion prevents short-circuiting of the electrode terminals or the signal terminal group by directing the flow of condensation water or infiltrated rainwater to a position away from the electrode terminals or the signal terminal group.

In the above-mentioned battery pack connection structure, the connection terminal may be disposed away from the cylindrical portion, the circumferential wall, and the top plate portion. The areas near the support plate, the cylindrical portion, and the circumferential wall are areas into which condensed water or infiltrated rainwater is likely to find its way. This battery pack connection structure can prevent short circuits by disposing the electrode terminals and signal terminals away from areas into which water is likely to find its way.

In the above-mentioned battery pack connection structure, the first connection member may have a communication hole 34 penetrating the circumferential wall between the cylindrical portion and the circumferential wall. The above-mentioned battery pack connection structure has a communication hole penetrating the circumferential wall. The communication hole prevents leakage by discharging internal water such as condensation water or rainwater. In addition, the battery pack connection structure allows smooth attachment and detachment by easing the internal pressure during attachment and detachment.

In the above-mentioned battery pack connection structure, the support wall may have a second end face 46b on the opposite side to the first end face, and the communication hole may be disposed adjacent to the second end face. This battery pack connection structure disposes the portion for discharging droplets away from the connection terminal, thereby preventing leakage of electricity from the connection terminal.

In the above-mentioned battery pack connection structure, the cylindrical portion may protrude higher than the circumferential wall. This battery pack connection structure makes it easier to determine the center position when connecting the second connection member.

In the above-described battery pack connection structure, the second connection member has a recess 142 capable of receiving the cylindrical portion at the center of the inner surface 141, and the inner peripheral surface of the recess may abut against the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion when the second connection member is attached to the first connection member. This recess of the second connection member contributes to accurate axial alignment of the first connection member and the second connection member.

In the above-mentioned battery pack connection structure, the first connection member may be electrically connected integrally with the electrical device, and the second connection member may be electrically connected to the terminal of the battery. This battery pack connection structure can connect the second connection member to the terminal of various types of batteries via an adapter.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various configurations may be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 connection structure 12 first connection member 14 second connection member 24 cylindrical portion 25 fitting portion 26 circumferential wall 28, 28A connector portion 46 support wall 46a, 46b, 56, 60 end surface 90, 90A, 90B, 90C battery 92, 92A electrical device

Claims (12)

A first connection member electrically connected to either the battery or the electrical device;
a second connection member electrically connected to the other of the battery and the electrical device,
The first connection member and the second connection member are coupled to each other by a rotational movement to electrically connect the battery and the electrical device,
fitting portions that are located at a center and an outer periphery of the first connection member and that align axial positions of the first connection member and the second connection member;
a plurality of connector portions that are arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction around a rotation center of the pivoting motion in a plan view and are rotationally asymmetric with respect to the rotation center ;
the plurality of connector portions include a first connector portion formed on the first connection member,
The first connector portion has a connection terminal and a top plate portion covering the connection terminal on a side of the second connection member.
Battery pack connection structure. 2. The battery pack connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the fitting portion has a columnar portion formed at the center of the first connection member and a circumferential wall along the outer periphery of the first connection member,
The first connector portion is integrally formed across the cylindrical portion and the circumferential wall.
Battery pack connection structure. 3. The battery pack connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the first connector portion has a support wall extending in a radial direction, and the connection terminal is provided on a first end surface of the support wall.
Battery pack connection structure. 4. The battery pack connection structure according to claim 3, wherein the top plate portion of the first connector portion extends from an end portion of the support wall on the second connection member side toward the first end face in a circumferential direction to cover the connection terminal.
Battery pack connection structure. The battery pack connection structure according to claim 4,
A connection structure for a battery pack, wherein the connection terminal is disposed away from the cylindrical portion, the circumferential wall, and the top plate portion. 6. The battery pack connection structure according to claim 3, wherein the first connection member has a communication hole penetrating the circumferential wall between the cylindrical portion and the circumferential wall.
Battery pack connection structure. The battery pack connection structure according to claim 6, wherein the support wall has a second end face opposite the first end face, and the communication hole is disposed at a position adjacent to the second end face. 8. The battery pack connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical portion protrudes higher than the circumferential wall.
Battery pack connection structure. 9. The battery pack connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the second connection member has a recess in a center of an inner surface thereof capable of receiving the cylindrical portion, and an inner circumferential surface of the recess abuts against an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion when the second connection member is attached to the first connection member.
Battery pack connection structure. 10. The connection structure of a battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the first connection member is electrically connected integrally with the electric device, and the second connection member is electrically connected to a terminal of the battery.
Battery pack connection structure. The connection structure of the battery pack according to any one of claims 2 to 9, further comprising a plurality of claws disposed between the cylindrical portion and the circumferential wall in a radial direction and protruding toward the space between the cylindrical portion and the circumferential wall.
Battery pack connection structure. 12. The battery pack connection structure according to claim 11, further comprising an outer peripheral claw protruding inward from the circumferential wall and an inner peripheral claw protruding outward from the cylindrical portion.
Battery pack connection structure.

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