Rechargeable battery system for replacement of lead-acid battery

• US 10,181,590 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2015
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Inventors: Zeiler, Jeffrey M., Gilpatrick, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelly, Cynthia H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kekia, Omar M
• Application Number:
  US14/641,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20150318521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 429 65, 429 96, 429 99
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery system for use with outdoor power equipment includes a base including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a battery receptacle electrically coupled to the positive terminal and the negative terminal, wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal are spaced apart by a distance substantially the same as a standard distance between terminals of a standard lead-acid battery, and a lithium-ion battery removably attached to the battery receptacle, wherein when attached, the lithium-ion battery is electrically coupled to the positive terminal and the negative terminal via the battery receptacle.

Claims

1. A battery system for use with outdoor power equipment, comprising:

a base including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a battery receptacle electrically coupled to the positive terminal and the negative terminal, wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal are spaced apart by a distance substantially the same as a standard distance between terminals of a standard lead-acid battery; and

a lithium-ion battery comprising a battery housing, a positive battery terminal, a negative battery terminal, and at least one lithium-ion battery cell positioned within the battery housing, the battery housing configured to be received by the battery receptacle to removably attach the lithium-ion battery to the battery receptacle, wherein when attached, the positive battery terminal is electrically coupled to the positive terminal of the base and the negative battery terminal is electrically coupled to the negative terminal of the base via the battery receptacle;

wherein the lithium-ion battery is removable from the base without the use of tools.

2. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a housing having a maximum horizontal cross-sectional area substantially the same as or less than a standard cross-sectional area of a standard lead-acid battery.

3. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal are positioned at a height substantially the same as a standard height of terminals of a standard lead-acid battery.

4. The battery system of claim 1, further comprising:

a charging station for recharging the lithium-ion battery, the charging station including a station battery receptacle and an electrical plug, wherein the lithium-ion battery is configured to be removably attached to the station battery receptacle, wherein when attached, the lithium-ion battery is electrically coupled to the electrical plug.

5. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the lithium-ion battery includes an electrical plug for supplying power to charge the lithium-ion battery.

6. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the battery receptacle comprises one of a plurality of battery receptacles and each battery receptacle is electrically coupled to the positive terminal and the negative terminal;

and

wherein the lithium-ion battery comprises one of a plurality of lithium-ion batteries and each lithium-ion battery is removably attached to one of the battery receptacles, wherein when attached to one of the battery receptacles, each lithium-ion battery is electrically coupled to the positive terminal and the negative terminal.

7. The battery system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of battery receptacles comprises a first battery receptacle and a second battery receptacle;

wherein the base has a width; and

wherein the two battery receptacles are positioned so that the midpoint of the width is located between the first battery receptacle and the second battery receptacle.

8. The battery system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of battery receptacles comprise a first battery receptacle and a second battery receptacle;

wherein the base has a depth; and

wherein each of the two battery receptacles is located entirely on one side of the midpoint of the depth.

9. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the battery receptacle is configured so that the lithium-ion battery is inserted into the battery receptacle in a substantially vertical direction and the lithium-ion battery is removed from the battery receptacle in a substantially vertical direction.

10. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the base has a width;

and

wherein the receptacle is located entirely on one side of the midpoint of the width.

11. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the base has a depth;

and

wherein the receptacle is located entirely on one side of the midpoint of the depth.

12. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal are positioned so that the same electrical leads used to electrically connect the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the standard lead-acid battery to a piece of equipment are also used to electrically connect the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the base to the piece of equipment.

13. The battery system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover for limiting user access to at least one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal.

14. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the volume of the lithium-ion battery is less than the volume of the base.

15. A battery system, comprising:

a base including a positive base terminal, a negative base terminal, and a receptacle including a positive receptacle terminal electrically coupled to the positive base terminal and a negative receptacle terminal electrically coupled to the negative base terminal, wherein the base is configured to replace a standard lead-acid battery; and

a rechargeable battery including a housing, at least one rechargeable battery cell positioned within the housing, a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal, wherein the housing is configured to be received by the receptacle to removably attach the rechargeable battery to the receptacle of the base, wherein when attached, the positive battery terminal is electrically coupled to the positive receptacle terminal and the negative battery terminal is electrically coupled to the negative receptacle terminal so that the rechargeable battery is electrically coupled to the positive base terminal and the negative base terminal;

wherein the rechargeable battery is removable from the base without the use of tools.

16. The battery system of claim 15, wherein the base is configured to replace a standard lead-acid battery having a form factor selected from the group consisting of U1, U1R, 22F, 22NF, 26, and 26R.

17. The battery system of claim 15, wherein the base has a maximum height of 7¼

inches, a maximum width of 7¾

inches, and a maximum depth of 5⅛

inches.

18. The battery system of claim 15, wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal comprise standard lead-acid battery terminals.

19. The battery system of claim 18, wherein the standard lead-acid battery terminals comprise one of L terminals, SAE terminals, JIS terminals, embedded low profile terminals, embedded high profile terminals, embedded automotive post terminals, automotive post and stud terminals, universal terminals, embedded universal terminals, automotive post terminals, wingnut terminals, dual wingnut terminals, stud terminals, low profile terminals, embedded automotive post and stud terminals, M terminals, and F terminals.