Thermal management systems for battery packs

• US 7,270,910 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Francis, Jeffrey J., White, Daniel J., Spencer, William D., Brotto, Daniele C, Phillips, Steven J, Yahnker, Christopher R, Carrier, David A, Seman, Andrew E Jr., Doyle, Michael C, Trinh, Danh T, Ekstrom, Erik A
• Primary Examiner(s): Crepeau; Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US11/075,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20050202310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/62
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/008 Cooling means
• 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 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6235 Power tools
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/633 characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6552 Closed pipes transferring heat by thermal conductivity or phase transition, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6554 Rods or plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/656 characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6561 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6572 Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/659 by heat storage or buffering, e.g. heat capacity or liquid-solid phase changes or transition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 : Temperature sensitive devices
• 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 50/24 : adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion thermal insulation H01M10/658
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 : in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 : Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 : with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 : Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 : using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 : with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 : of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

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 system to dissipate heat from the battery pack.

Claims

1. A cordless power tool, comprising:

a tool housing;

a motor mounted to said tool housing;

a tool electronic control disposed within said tool housing, said tool electronic control configured to perform a programmed operation; and

a battery pack connected to said tool housing, said battery pack including a battery electronic control connectable to said tool electronic control.

2. The cordless power tool according to claim 1, wherein said tool electronic control is powered by a power supply in said battery pack.

3. The cordless power tool according to claim 1, further comprising a switch disposed on said tool housing wherein activation of said switch causes said battery electronic control to change from a dormant mode of operation to an active mode of operation.

4. The cordless power tool according to claim 1, further comprising a battery charger unit including a charger electronic control that is connectable to said battery electronic control.

5. The cordless power tool according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor in said battery pack, said temperature sensor providing a temperature signal to said battery electronic control.

6. The cordless power tool according to claim 5, wherein said temperature sensor is connectable to said tool electronic control for providing said temperature signal to said tool electronic control.

7. The cordless power tool according to claim 1, further comprising a battery pack identification component including stored information regarding battery characteristics.

8. The cordless power tool according to claim 7, wherein said battery pack identification component is connectable to said tool electronic control for providing said stored information regarding battery characteristics to said tool electronic control.

9. The cordless power tool according to claim 7, wherein said battery pack identification component is connectable to a charger electronic control for providing said stored information regarding battery characteristics to said charger electronic control.

10. The cordless power tool according to claim 1, wherein said battery electronic control controls a pulse width modulated duty cycle of current delivered by said at least one battery to said motor to control a speed of said motor.

11. A cordless power tool, comprising:

a tool housing;

a motor mounted to said tool housing;

a tool electronic control disposed within said tool housing;

a battery pack connected to said tool housing, said battery pack including a battery electronic control connectable to said tool electronic control; and

a temperature sensor in said battery pack, said temperature sensor providing a temperature signal to said baterry electronic control, said temperature sensor connectable to said tool electronic control for providing said temperature signal to said tool electronic control.

12. The cordless power tool according to claim 11, wherein said tool electronic control is powered by a power supply in said battery pack.

13. The cordless power tool according to claim 11, further comprising a switch disposed on said tool housing wherein activation of said switch causes said battery electronic control to change from a dormant mode of operation to an active mode of operation.

14. The cordless power tool according to claim 11, further comprising a battery charger unit including a charger electronic control that is connectable to said battery electronic control.

15. The cordless power tool according to claim 11, further comprising a battery pack identification component including stored information regarding battery characteristics.

16. The cordless power tool according to claim 15, wherein said battery pack identification component is connectable to said tool electronic control for providing said stored information regarding battery characteristics to said tool electronic control.

17. The cordless power tool according to claim 15, wherein said battery pack identification component is connectable to a charger electronic control for providing said stored information regarding battery characteristics to said charger electronic control.

18. The cordless power tool according to claim 11, wherein said battery electronic control controls a pulse width modulated duty cycle of current delivered by said at least one battery to said motor to control a speed of said motor.

19. A cordless power tool, comprising:

a tool housing;

a motor mounted to said tool housing;

a tool electronic control disposed within said tool housing, said tool electronic control configured to perform a programmed operation;

a battery pack connected to said tool housing, said battery pack including a battery electronic control connectable to said tool electronic control; and

a battery pack identification component including stored information regarding battery characteristics, said battery pack identification component connectable to said tool electronic control for providing said stored information regarding battery characteristics to said tool electronic control.

20. The cordless power tool according to claim 19, wherein said tool electronic control is powered by a power supply in said battery pack.

21. The cordless power tool according to claim 19, further comprising a switch disposed on said tool housing wherein activation of said switch causes said battery electronic control to change from a dormant mode of operation to an active mode of operation.

22. The cordless power tool according to claim 19, further comprising a battery charger unit including a charger electronic control that is connectable to said battery electronic control.

23. The cordless power tool according to claim 19, further comprising a temperature sensor in said battery pack, said temperature sensor providing a temperature signal to said battery electronic control.

24. The cordless power tool according to claim 23, wherein said temperature sensor is connectable to said tool electronic control for providing said temperature signal to said tool electronic control.

25. The cordless power tool according to claim 19, wherein said battery pack identification component is connectable to a charger electronic control for providing said stored information regarding battery characteristics to said charger electronic control.

26. The cordless power tool according to claim 19, wherein said battery electronic control controls a pulse width modulated duty cycle of current delivered by said at least one battery to said motor to control a speed of said motor.