Battery cooling system

• US 7,252,904 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• 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, Moores, Robert G Jr., Ramstrom, Lee W, Bailey, Rouse R Jr., Kreiser, Douglas L
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut; Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US10/801,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20040174138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 429/62, 429/17, 429/83, 429/120, 429/123, 429/148
• US Class Current: 429/62
• 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 method for cooling a cordless power tool including a battery pack while in use:

enabling a fluid to enter through an inlet in said battery pack during use of the cordless power tool;

passing the fluid around one or more cells in said battery pack during use of the cordless power tool;

cooling said one or more cells with the passing fluid during use of the cordless power tool; and

exiting the fluid from inside the battery pack to ambient through an outlet in said battery pack during use of the cordless power tool;

operating said cordless power tool with said battery pack at a desired temperature for optimizing performance.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising channeling the fluid to the one or more cells in said battery pack.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising directing the fluid to the one or more cells in said battery pack.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising dissipating heat from the one or more cells via a heat sink.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising forcing the fluid through said battery pack.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising sensing a temperature of the one or more cells.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising equalizing the temperature of said one or more cells.

8. A method of cooling a removable battery pack for a hand held cordless tool while in use comprising:

providing a hand held cordless tool with a removable battery pack;

enabling a fluid to enter into said removable battery pack while in use;

passing the fluid by one or more cells in the removable battery pack while in use;

cooling said one or more cells in said removable battery pack while in use;

enabling the fluid to exit said removable battery pack to ambient while in use; and

operating said cordless power tool with said battery pack at a desired temperature for optimizing performance.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising channeling the fluid to the one or more cells in said battery pack.

10. The method according to claim 8 further comprising directing the fluid to the one or more cells in said battery pack.

11. The method according to claim 8 further comprising dissipating heat from the one or more cells via a heat sink.

12. The method according to claim 8 further comprising forcing the fluid through said battery pack.

13. The method according to claim 8 further comprising sensing a temperature of the one or more cells.

14. The method according to claim 13 further comprising equalizing the temperature of said one or more cells.

15. A method for cooling a cordless power tool including a battery pack while in use:

positioning a mechanism for sinking heat in association with one or more cells in said battery pack;

dissipating heat from said one or more cells via said mechanism during operation of said cordless power tool;

cooling the battery pack during operation of said cordless power tool; and

operating said cordless power tool with said battery pack at a desired temperature for optimizing performance.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising dissipating heat from the one or more cells via a heat sink.

17. A method of cooling a removable battery pack for a hand held cordless tool while in use comprising:

positioning a mechanism for sinking heat in association with one or more cells in the removable battery pack;

dissipating heat from said one or more cells via said mechanism in said removable battery pack during operation of said cordless tool;

cooling said removable battery pack during operation of said hand held cordless tool; and

operating said cordless power tool with said battery pack at a desired temperature for optimizing performance.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising dissipating heat from the one or more cells via a heat sink.