Battery pack

• US 10,074,847 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kolden, Michael, Sheeks, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Dignan, Michael L
• Application Number:
  US15/393,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20170110709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/05 Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte H01M10/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/516 by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/519 comprising printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/571 Methods or arrangements for affording protection against corrosion; Selection of materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/60 Arrangements or processes for filling or topping-up with liquids; Arrangements or processes for draining liquids from casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack including a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The first housing portion is secured to the second housing portion and defines an interface for receiving a power tool. The battery pack also includes a frame received within the second housing portion, the frame including opening to secure a plurality of battery cells. The battery pack further includes a pair of battery cells of the plurality of battery cells stacked vertically in each of the openings. A wedge is positioned in each of the openings between the pair of battery cells. The battery pack also includes a printed circuit board positioned between the frame and the first housing portion.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a first housing portion secured to a second housing portion, the first housing portion defining an interface for receiving a power tool;

a frame received within the second housing portion, the frame constructed of a single piece including openings within the single piece to secure a plurality of battery cells;

a pair of battery cells of the plurality of battery cells stacked vertically in each of the openings within the single piece, the pair of battery cells having a first longitudinal axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a second longitudinal axis of the battery pack;

a wedge positioned in each of the openings within the single piece between the pair of battery cells, wherein the wedge includes a first recessed portion on a first face of the wedge and a second recessed portion on a second face of the wedge and wherein the wedge includes a first side surface abutting a first side wall of the opening within the single piece and a second side surface abutting a second side wall of the opening within the single piece; and

a weld strap for interconnecting the plurality of battery cells to one another, the weld strap coupled to the frame independent of the wedge.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprises:

a printed circuit board positioned between the frame and the first housing portion

wherein the weld strap that interconnects the plurality of battery cells to one another connects the plurality of battery cells to the printed circuit board.

3. The battery pack of claim 2, further comprising:

electrical terminals extending from the printed circuit board and operable to interface with the power tool; and

a terminal cover including a plurality of channels that receive the electrical terminals.

4. The battery pack of claim 3, wherein the terminal cover is at least partially exposed to the exterior of the first housing portion.

5. The battery pack of claim 3, wherein the frame includes a second plurality of channels that substantially align with the plurality of channels of the terminal cover.

6. The battery pack of claim 5, further comprising:

a first latch member extending through the first housing portion; and

a second latch member extending through the first housing portion, the first and second latch members operable to secure the battery pack to the power tool.

7. The battery pack of claim 6, further comprising a latch cover supporting the first and second latch members.

8. The battery pack of claim 7, wherein the second housing portion includes drain holes on a battery pack bottom wall of the second housing portion.

9. The battery pack of claim 8, further comprising a water discharge pathway extending along the latch cover, downward along a space between the plurality of battery cells and the second housing portion, to the drain holes.

10. The battery pack of claim 9, wherein the water discharge pathway directs water infiltrating the battery pack to the drain holes.

11. The battery pack of claim 10, wherein the water discharge pathway further includes the second plurality of channels.

12. The battery pack of claim 10, wherein the latch cover includes a base portion having a first side and a second side and an elevated portion, the elevated portion extending between the first and second sides of the base portion.

13. The battery pack of claim 12, wherein the elevated portion defines a space between the latch cover and the plurality of battery cells.

14. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of each of the openings of the frame constructed of a single piece received within the second housing portion, extend from a top portion of the frame to a bottom portion of the frame.

15. A battery pack comprising:

a housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion, the first housing portion secured to the second housing portion, and the first housing portion defining an interface for receiving a power tool;

a frame received within the housing, the frame constructed of a single piece and including openings within the single piece to secure a plurality of battery cells;

a pair of battery cells of the plurality of battery cells stacked vertically in each of the openings within the single piece;

a wedge positioned in each of the openings within the single piece between the pair of battery cells, wherein the wedge includes a first recessed portion on a first face of the wedge and a second recessed portion on a second face of the wedge and wherein the wedge includes a first side surface abutting a first side wall of the opening within the single piece and a second side surface abutting a second side wall of the opening within the single piece;

a weld strap for interconnecting the plurality of battery cells to one another, the weld strap coupled to the frame independent of the wedge; and

a printed circuit board positioned between the frame and the first housing portion.

16. The battery pack of claim 15, further comprising:

electrical terminals extending from the printed circuit board and operable to interface with the power tool; and

a terminal cover including a plurality of channels that receive the electrical terminals.

17. The battery pack of claim 16, wherein the frame includes a second plurality of channels that substantially align with the plurality of channels of the terminal cover.