Battery cooling system

• US 7,056,616 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2001
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bradus, Robert, Cochran, John R., Bailey, Rouse R. Jr., Ramstrom, Lee W., Moores, Robert G. Jr., Kreiser, Douglas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US09/992,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20020034682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 429/62, 429/71, 429/83, 429/120, 429/123, 429/198, 320/113
• US Class Current: 429/71
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/008 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/617 for achieving uniformity or desired distribution of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/623 Portable devices, e.g. mobile telephones, cameras or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6235 Power tools
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/652 characterised by gradients for achieving a desired temperature gradient H01M10/617
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/653 characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6554 Rods or plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6555 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6566 Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers H01M10/6565 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6572 : Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/66 : Heat-exchange relationships between the cells and other systems, e.g. central heating systems or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/667 : the system being an electronic component, e.g. a CPU, an inverter or a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 : Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• 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 50/247 : specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/30 : Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 : characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 : Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A cordless power tool has a housing which includes a mechanism to couple with a removable battery pack. The battery pack includes one or more battery cells as well as a vent system in the battery pack housing which enables fluid to move through the housing. A mechanism is associated with the battery pack to dissipate heat from the battery pack.

Claims

1. A removabe battery pack for a hand held cordless tool having a mechanism for coupling and decoupling the removable battery pack comprising:

a housing with one or more cells in said housing, a vent system in said housing for enabling fluid passage through said housing and means on said housing for coupling and decoupling said battery pack with the mechanism of the hand held tool; and

a mechanism associated with said battery pack for dissipating heat in said battery pack housing.

2. The removable battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes fluid directors for moving fluid to said one or more cells.

3. The removable battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes a heat sink for dissipating heat from said one or more cells.

4. The removable battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes a fan for forcing fluid through said vent system to dissipate heat from the battery pack housing.

5. The removable battery pack according to claim 1, further including a heat pump for providing cooling and heating of said one or more cells in said battery pack housing.

6. The removable battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes a sensor for sensing temperature of said one or more cells and a heat dissipator for equalizing the temperature of said plurality of cells.

7. The removable battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes fluid directors for moving fluid around higher temperature cells of said one or more cells and a heat sink for dissipating heat from higher temperature cells of said one or more cells.

8. The removable battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes fluid directors for moving fluid around higher temperature cells of said plurality of cells and a fan for forcing fluid through said vent system to dissipate heat from the battery pack housing.

9. The removable battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes a heat sink for dissipating heat from higher temperature cells of said one or more cells and a fan for forcing fluid through said vent system to dissipate heat from the battery pack housing.

10. A removable battery pack for a hand held cordless tool having a mechanism for coupling and decoupling with the removable pack comprising:

a housing with one or more cells in said housing, a vent system in said housing for enabling fluid passage through said housing and a member on said housing for mating said battery pack with the mechanism of the hand held tool; and

a mechanism associated with said battery pack for dissipating heat in said battery pack housing.

11. A removable battery pack for a hand held cordless tool having a mechanism for coupling and decoupling with the removable battery comprising:

a housing with one or more cells in said housing, a vent system in said housing for enabling fluid passage through said housing and said housing mating with the mechanism of the hand held tool; and

a mechanism associated with said battery pack for dissipating heat in said battery pack housing.