IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,413,079
Granted Patent B2
US 12,413,079 · App. 18/561,547 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Power tool and method for carrying out charge equalization between accumulators in a power tool

Inventor: Michael Lacher (Schwabmünchen, DE)
Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
H02J7/0014B25F5/00H02J7/0063
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,413,079
App. No.
18/561,547
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power tool having a first accumulator and a second accumulator, wherein the power tool has a first power electronics system with a first inverter and a second power electronics system with a second inverter, wherein the first inverter is electrically connected to the first accumulator and the second inverter is electrically connected to the second accumulator. The first power electronics system includes a first charge equalization device while the second power electronics system includes a second charge equalization device. The charge equalization devices are configured to carry out charge equalization between the accumulators. Furthermore, the power tool includes a device for speed control. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for carrying out charge equalization between two accumulators in a power tool. In this case, the charge equalization is preferably carried out by different load splitting via the charge equalization devices of the power electronics systems.

Claims (33)

1. A power tool comprising:

a first accumulator;

a second accumulator;

a first power electronics system with a first inverter;

a second power electronics system with a second inverter, wherein the first inverter is electrically connected to the first accumulator and the second inverter is electrically connected to the second accumulator;

the first power electronics system including a first charge equalizer and the second power electronics system including a second charge equalizer, the first and second charge equalizers configured to carry out charge equalization between the first and second accumulators; and

a speed controller, the speed controller connected upstream of the first and second charge equalizers;

the first and second power electronics system each having a current flow controller downstream of the first and second charge equalizers.

2. The power tool as recited in claim 1 further comprising a motor having a rotor and a stator with a first winding and a second winding.

3. The power tool as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second inverters are configured to ascertain state data relating to the first and second accumulators and to exchange the state data via a communication connection existing between the first and second inverters.

4. The power tool as recited in claim 3 wherein the state data include current values or voltage values describing a performance of the first and second accumulators.

5. The power tool as recited in claim 3 wherein the state data are selected from at least one of a group consisting of: charge, temperature, source voltage, maximum discharge current, and optimum discharge current of the first and second accumulators.

6. The power tool as recited in claim 1 wherein the speed controller, a current controller or the first and second inverters are implemented in the form of block, trapezoidal or sinusoidal commutation.

7. The power tool as recited in claim 2 wherein the motor is a brushless motor.

8. The power tool as recited in claim 1 further comprising a battery management system or a cell management system.

9. The power tool as recited in claim 8 wherein the battery management system or the cell management system is configured to detect state data relating to the first and second accumulators.

10. A method for carrying out charge equalization between two accumulators in a power tool as recited in claim 1 , the method comprising the following steps:

a) operating the power tool, a motor of the power tool being supplied with electrical energy by the first accumulator and the second accumulator;

b) ascertaining state data relating to the first and second accumulators using the first and second power electronics systems;

c) carrying out speed control using the speed controller;

d) carrying out charge equalization between the first and second accumulators as a function of the previously ascertained state data using the first and second charge equalization devices of the first and second power electronics systems;

the first and second power electronics system each having a current flow controller downstream of the first and second charge equalizers.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the charge equalization is implemented by different load splitting.

12. A power tool comprising:

a first accumulator;

a second accumulator;

a first power electronics system with a first inverter;

a second power electronics system with a second inverter, wherein the first inverter is electrically connected to the first accumulator and the second inverter is electrically connected to the second accumulator;

the first power electronics system including a first charge equalizer and the second power electronics system including a second charge equalizer, the first and second charge equalizers configured to carry out charge equalization between the first and second accumulators; and

a speed controller, the speed controller connected upstream of the first and second charge equalizers;

wherein the first and second inverters are configured to ascertain state data relating to the first and second accumulators and to exchange the state data via a communication connection existing between the first and second inverters.

13. The power tool as recited in claim 12 wherein the state data include current values or voltage values describing a performance of the first and second accumulators.

14. The power tool as recited in claim 12 wherein the state data are selected from at least one of a group consisting of: charge, temperature, source voltage, maximum discharge current, and optimum discharge current of the first and second accumulators.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2023
From: LACHER, MICHAEL
To: HILTI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 065588/0566 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 21181105 · Jun 23, 2021 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250088012A1 · Mar 13, 2025
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