Electric power tool powered by battery pack and adapter therefor

摘要

An adapter is provided with a connecter portion configured to be detachably attached to the main body of the electric power tool and at least one battery receiving portion configured to be detachably attached to the battery pack. The battery pack attached to the battery receiving portion is electrically coupled with the main body of the power tool attached to the connecter portion via a power supply circuit of the adapter. The adapter is provided with a measuring portion configured to measure an index corresponding to a charged level of the battery pack and a signal receiving portion configured to receive an alarm signal outputted from the battery pack, and is configured to stop or restrict power supply to the main body of the electric power tool based upon a measurement by the measuring portion and the alarm signal that is received.

主权项

1. An adapter for connecting a main body of an electric power tool and at least one battery pack to each other, the adapter comprising:
a connecter portion configured to be detachably attached to the main body of the power tool; at least one battery receiving portion each configured to be detachably attached to any one of first and second battery packs alternatively, the first battery pack being configured to output an alarm signal when the first battery pack is in a predetermined condition and the second battery pack being configured not to output the alarm signal even when the second battery pack is in the predetermined condition; a power supply circuit configured to electrically couple the first battery pack or the second battery pack attached to the battery receiving portion to the main body of the electric power tool attached to the connecter portion; a measuring portion configured to measure an index corresponding to a charged level of the first battery pack or the second battery pack attached to the battery receiving portion; a signal receiving portion configured to receive the alarm signal outputted from the first battery pack attached to the battery receiving portion; and a controller portion configured to:
detect which one of the first and second battery packs is attached to the battery receiving portion when the first or second battery pack is attached to the battery receiving portion,allow power supply through the power supply circuit regardless of the index measured by the measuring portion, while the first battery pack is attached to the battery receiving portion and the signal receiving portion does not receive the alarm signal,stop or restrict the power supply through the power supply circuit when the signal receiving portion receives the alarm signal, andstop or restrict the power supply through the power supply circuit based upon the index measured by the measuring portion while the second batter pack is attached to the battery receiving portion.