A TERMINAL BLOCK ASSEMBLY, SUBSTRATE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF
20230361494 ยท 2023-11-09
Inventors
Cpc classification
H05K1/184
ELECTRICITY
H01R12/515
ELECTRICITY
B25F5/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
H01R13/5845
ELECTRICITY
B25F5/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
H01R13/504
ELECTRICITY
H01R9/2466
ELECTRICITY
International classification
H01R13/504
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
A terminal block assembly for a power tool comprises a terminal block having at least one primary terminal configured for electrical connection with a battery and at least one secondary terminal in electrical connection with the at least one primary terminal. A substrate is mountable on the terminal block. The substrate has at least one first electrical connector electrically connectable with the at least one secondary terminal and at least one second electrical connector in electrical connection with the at least one first electrical connector. At least one wire is electrically connected to the at least one second electrical connector. An overmold is configured to cover the at least one second electrical connector and at least a portion of the at least one wire.
Claims
1. A terminal block assembly for a power tool comprising: a terminal block having at least one primary terminal configured for electrical connection with a battery and at least one secondary terminal in electrical connection with the at least one primary terminal; a substrate mountable on the terminal block, the substrate having at least one first electrical connector electrically connectable with the at least one secondary terminal and at least one second electrical connector in electrical connection with the at least one first electrical connector; at least one wire electrically connected to the at least one second electrical connector; and an overmold configured to cover the at least one second electrical connector and at least a portion of the at least one wire.
2. A terminal block assembly according to claim 1 wherein the overmold mechanically secures the portion of the at least one wire to the substrate.
3. A terminal block assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the substrate is mechanically and electrically connectable to the at least one secondary terminal.
4. A terminal block assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the at least one secondary terminal projects through a reciprocal hole in the substrate.
5. A terminal block assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the overmold is more flexible than the substrate.
6. A terminal block assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the overmold comprises one or more ribs or cut-aways arranged to permit relative movement of at least another portion of the wire with respect to the substrate.
7. A terminal block assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the terminal block is mounted to a housing of the power tool and the terminal block and/or the substrate are configured to move relative to the housing.
8. A terminal block assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the at least one wire comprises at least a first wire mounted to the substrate at a first position on the substrate and at least a second wire mounted to the substrate at a second position and the overmold covers both at least a portion of the at least one first wire and at least a portion of the at least one second wire.
9. A terminal block assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the portion of the at least one wire is soldered to the at least one second electrical connector.
10. A terminal block assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the overmold is formed from a rubber material, a thermoplastic elastomer, and/or a plastic material.
11. A terminal block assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the at least one secondary terminal is soldered to the at least one first electrical connector.
12. A terminal block assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the overmold covers the at least one secondary terminal and the at least one first electrical connector.
13. A terminal block assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board.
14. A terminal block assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the overmold completely surrounds at least a portion of the substrate.
15. A terminal block assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the portion of the at least one wire is mounted to the substrate at a first position on the substrate and the at least one secondary terminal is mechanically and electrically connected to the substrate at a second position which is different to the first position.
16. A power tool comprising a terminal block assembly according to claims 1 to 15.
17. A power tool according to claim 16, wherein the battery is removably mountable to the power tool and, when the battery is mounted to the power tool, the battery is electrically connected to the at least one primary terminal.
18. A substrate mountable on a terminal block for a power tool, the terminal block having at least one primary terminal configured for electrical connection with a battery and at least one secondary terminal in electrical connection with the at least one primary terminal, wherein the substrate comprises: at least one first electrical connector electrically connectable with the at least one secondary terminal; at least one second electrical connector in electrical connection with the at least one first electrical connector; at least one wire electrically connected to the at least one second electrical connector; and an overmold configured to cover the at least one second electrical connector and at least a portion of the at least one wire.
19. A method of manufacture of a power tool comprising: connecting at least one wire to at least one second electrical connector on a substrate; covering the at least one second electrical connector and at least a portion of the at least one wire with an overmold; mounting the substrate on at least one terminal of a terminal block, the substrate having at least one first electrical connector in electrical connection with the at least one second electrical connector; connecting the at least one terminal to the at least one first electrical connector; and mounting the terminal block and substrate on a housing of the power tool.
20. A printed circuit board for a power tool terminal block comprising; at least one wire electrically connected to the printed circuit board; an overmold covering the at least one wire mechanically securing at least a portion of the at least one wire; and a connector arranged to electrically and mechanically couple the printed circuit board directly to at least one terminal of the terminal block such that the at least one wire is electrically connected to the at least one terminal.
21. A terminal block assembly for a power tool comprising: a terminal block having at least one primary terminal configured for electrical connection with a battery and at least one secondary terminal in electrical connection with the at least one primary terminal; a substrate mountable on the terminal block, the substrate having at least one first electrical connector electrically connectable with the at least one secondary terminal and at least one second electrical connector in electrical connection with the at least one first electrical connector; at least one wire electrically connected to the at least one second electrical connector; and a curable material configured to cover the at least one second electrical connector and at least a portion of the at least one wire.
22. A terminal block assembly according to claim 20 wherein the curable material is an overmold or an overglue.
Description
[0027] Various other aspects and further examples are also described in the following detailed description and in the attached claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0028]
[0029]
[0030]
[0031]
[0032]
[0033]
[0034]
[0035]
[0036]
[0037]
[0038] The power tool 100 comprises a housing 102. The housing 102 comprises a clam shell type construction having two halves which are fastened together. The halves of the housing 102 are fastened together with screws but in alternative examples any suitable means for fastening the housing 102 together may be used such as glue, clips, bolts and so on. For the purposes of clarity, the fastenings in the housing 102 are not shown in
[0039] An electric motor (not shown) is mounted in a motor housing portion 104 of the housing 102. The motor housing portion 104 is integral with the housing 102.
[0040] As shown in
[0041] The battery pack 110 (represented with dotted lines in
[0042] The battery pack 110 comprises a plurality of battery connectors (not shown) configured to electrically and mechanically engage with a plurality of reciprocal primary terminals 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d in a terminal block assembly 114. The terminal block assembly 114 is mounted to the housing 102 as shown in
[0043] In some examples, the terminal block assembly 114 is moveable relative to the housing 102 when mounted to the housing 102. This means that the primary terminals 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d can maintain electrical contact with the battery connectors on the battery pack 110 when the power tool 100 vibrates during operation. In some other examples, the terminal block assembly 114 is rigidly fixed to the housing 102.
[0044] The terminal block assembly 114 will now be discussed in reference to
[0045] The terminal block assembly 114 comprises a terminal block 202 and a substrate 216 mounted on the terminal block 202. The substrate 216 is in electrical and mechanical engagement with the terminal block 202. The substrate 216 will be discussed in more detail below.
[0046] The terminal block 202 is arranged to fix the primary terminals 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d in position with respect to each other. This means that the primary terminals 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d are in the correct position for the plurality of battery connectors on the battery pack 110.
[0047] The terminal block 202 comprises a frame like structure for mounting to the housing 102 and mounting a plurality of components thereto. The terminal block 202 comprises one or more ribs 204 for engaging in reciprocal slots (not shown) within the housing 102. In some examples, the ribs 204 are arranged to loosely engage the reciprocal slots and thereby permit some relative movement of the terminal block 202 with respect to the housing 102.
[0048] The terminal block 202 also optionally comprises a pair of engagement arms 206a, 206b, for engaging an upper surface (not shown) of the battery pack 110. The engagement arms 206a, 206b, help align the plurality of battery connectors of the battery pack 110 with a plurality of reciprocal primary terminals 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d when mounting the battery pack 110 to the power tool 100.
[0049] The terminal block 202 comprises an upwardly projecting fin 208 arranged to mount a plurality of secondary terminals 210a, 210b, 210c, and 210d. The secondary terminals 210a, 210b, 210c, and 210d are each respectively electrically connected to the primary terminals 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d. In some examples, the secondary terminals 210a, 210b, 210c, and 210d respectively form unitary elements with the primary terminals 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d. However, in some other examples the secondary terminals 210a, 210b, 210c, and 210d are connected to the primary terminals 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d via wires or electrically conductive tracks. The secondary terminals 210 will be collectively referred to as 210 hereinafter.
[0050] The secondary terminals 210 are mounted within the housing 102 of the power tool 100 so that wires 212, 214 can be connected to the electrical circuit (not shown) of the power tool 100. The wires 212, 214 are partially represented in
[0051] In some examples, the outer primary terminals 200a, 200d mounted in the terminal block 202 are power terminals for providing electrical power to the power tool 100. In some examples, the inner primary terminals 200b, 200c are data communication terminals for connecting a battery controller (not shown) with a power tool controller (not shown). The inner primary terminals 200b, 200c e.g. data communication terminals 200b, 200c can be used for providing status information of the battery pack 110 to the power tool controller. In other examples, each of the primary terminals 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d can be used for both providing power and data communication. In other examples, there may be only two or three primary terminals. In other examples, there may be more than four primary terminals e.g. five or there can be any number of primary terminals. The primary terminals 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d will be collectively referred to as 200 hereinafter.
[0052] The wires 212, 214 as shown in
[0053] Turning to
[0054] As mentioned previously, the substrate 216 is mounted on the terminal block 202. In some examples, the substrate 216 is a printed circuit board. However, in other examples, the substrate 216 is not a printed circuit board, but a rigid substrate 216 mechanically coupled to the terminal block 202.
[0055] In some examples, the substrate 216 has at least one first electrical connector 400, 402 electrically connectable with the at least one second terminal 210. As shown in
[0056] In some examples, the substrate 216 further comprises at least one second electrical connector 700, 702 (best seen in
[0057] In some examples, the at least one second electrical connector 700, 702 is two wire through-holes 700, 702. The wire through-holes 700, 702 are respectively arranged to receive the wires 212, 214 projecting therethrough. The wire through-holes 700, 702 in some examples are copper plated.
[0058] In some examples, the substrate 216 comprises a first conductive track 706 and a second conductive track 708 electrically connecting the wire through-holes 700, 702 with the terminal through-holes 400, 402. As shown in
[0059] In some alternative examples, the substrate 216 does not comprise the first and second conductive tracks 706, 708. Instead the wire through-holes 700, 702 are connected to the terminal through-holes 400, 402 with separate wires (not shown).
[0060] Turning back to
[0061] In some examples, after the wires 212, 214 have been connected to the substrate 216, the substrate 216 and wires 212, 214 are placed in a mold and an overmold material is molded on the substrate 216. The overmold 220 then cures on the substrate 216 and the wires 212, 214 are protected by the overmold 220.
[0062] Once the wires 212, 214 have been covered by the overmold 220, the substrate 216 is directional since the wires 212, 214 project from one side of the substrate 216. This means that correct assembly of the substrate 216 to the terminal block 202 is easier for a worker on the assembly line.
[0063] Advantageously, providing a substrate 216, e.g. a printed circuit board 216 as a subassembly which is mounted on the terminal block 202 means that the assembling process is much easier. This is because the soldering process does not depend on the abilities of the workers on the assembly line. The substrate 216 is compact and this means that very little assembly space is required. The substrate 216 also means that the direction of the wires 212, 214 can be predefined and reduces errors in attaching the wrong wires to the terminal block 202. For example, previously a worker could accidently solder the incorrect wire to a secondary terminal 210 in the terminal block 202.
[0064] In some examples, the overmold 220 is more flexible than the substrate 216. This means that that material of the overmold 220 will flex when the wires 212, 214 move. Accordingly, the soldered joints (not shown) at the wire through-holes 700, 702 are less likely to move reducing their wear.
[0065] In some examples, the overmold 220 is formed from a rubber material, a thermoplastic elastomer, and/or a plastic material. Turning to
[0066] As shown in
[0067] Since the overmold 220 completely surrounds the middle portion 406 of the substrate 216, the overmold 220 will not peel off from the substrate 216. The wire 212 comprises a sheath 600 and a portion of the sheath 600 is removed to leave an exposed end 602 to project through the wire through-holes 700 and provide a good electrical connection when soldered.
[0068] An alternative example of the overmold 220 is shown in
[0069] Whilst
[0070] As shown in
[0071] Another example will now be discussed in reference to
[0072] The substrate 500 as shown in
[0073] As shown in
[0074] The overmold 502 covers both the first pair of wires 212, 214 and the second pair of wires 508, 510. The overmold 502 is similar to the previously discussed examples in reference to
[0075] Although not visible in
[0076] Turning to
[0077]
[0078]
[0079]
[0080]
[0081] Turning to
[0082] Likewise a third wire 804 and fourth wire 806 are soldered to auxiliary wire through-holes 808, 810 and are respectively covered by a second overmold 812 and a third overmold 814. This means that the substrate 800 can be preassembled and no wires need to be soldered to the terminal block 202 during assembly.
[0083] A method of manufacture of a power tool 100 will now be described in reference to
[0084] At least one wire 212, 214 is connected to the at least one second electrical connector 700, 702 on the substrate 216 as shown in step 900 of
[0085] Then the at least one second electrical connector 700, 702 and the at least one wire 212, 214 are covered with an overmold 220 as shown in step 902 of
[0086] Once the overmold 220 has cured following the molding step 902, the substrate 216 is mounted on the at least one secondary terminal 210b, 210c of the terminal block 202 as shown in step 904 of
[0087] The at least one secondary terminal 210b, 210c is then connected to the at least one first electrical connector 400, 402 as shown in step 906 of
[0088] The terminal block 202 and the substrate 216 are then mounted on the housing 102 of the power tool 100 as shown in step 908 of
[0089] In another embodiment two or more embodiments are combined. Features of one embodiment can be combined with features of other embodiments.
[0090] Embodiments of the present invention have been discussed with particular reference to the examples illustrated. However it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made to the examples described within the scope of the invention.