Battery cooling system

• US 7,326,490 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• 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: Moores, Robert G Jr., Ramstrom, Lee W, Bailey, Rouse R Jr., Kreiser, Douglas L, Bradus, Robert, Cochran, John R
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut; Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US10/801,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20040175610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 429/62, 429/71, 429/82, 429/83, 429/96, 429/97, 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 cordless power tool comprising:

a cordless power tool with a removable battery pack having a housing including a mechanism for coupling with the removable battery pack;

said removable battery pack comprising a housing with one or more cells in said housing, an inlet in said battery pack housing for enabling fluid to enter into said housing when said cordless power tools is in use, an outlet in said battery pack housing enabling fluid to exit said housing; and

a mechanism associated with said battery pack for dissipating heat from said battery pack and maintaining a desired temperature for optimizing performance during use of the cordless power tool.

2. The cordless tool according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes at least one channel for moving fluid to said one or more cells and through said housing.

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

4. The cordless tool 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 cordless tool according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes at least one fluid director for moving fluid to said one or more cells.

6. The cordless tool 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.

7. The cordless tool 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.

8. The cordless tool according to claim 7, said heat dissipator wicks heat from hotter cells to ambient or to other cells to equalize cell temperature.

9. The cordless tool 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.

10. The cordless tool 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 said vent system to dissipate heat from the battery pack housing.

11. The cordless tool 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.

12. A removable 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, an inlet and outlet in said housing for enabling fluid to enter and exit said housing and an element on said housing for coupling and decoupling said battery pack with the coupling and decoupling mechanism of the hand held tool; and

a mechanism associated with said battery pack for dissipating heat in said battery pack housing and maintaining a desired d temperature for optimizing performance during use of the cordless power tool.

13. The removable battery pack according to claim 12, wherein said mechanism includes at least one fluid director for moving fluid to said one or more cells.

14. The removable battery pack according to claim 12, wherein said mechanism includes at least one channel for moving fluid through said housing.

15. The removable battery pack according to claim 12, wherein said mechanism includes a heat sink for dissipating heat from said one or more cells.

16. The removable battery pack according to claim 12, further including a heat pump for providing cooling and heating of said one or more cells in said battery pack housing.

17. The removable battery pack according to claim 12, wherein said mechanism includes a sensor for sensing temperature of said one or more cells and a heat dissipator for equalizing the of said plurality of cells.

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

a housing with one or more cells in said housing, an inlet and an outlet in said housing for enabling fluid to enter and exit said housing and a member on said housing for mating said battery pack with the coupling and decoupling mechanism of the hand held tool; and

a mechanism associated with said battery pack for dissipating heat in said battery pack housing and maintaining a desired temperature for optimizing performance during use of the cordless power tool.

19. 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, an inlet and an outlet in said housing for enabling fluid to enter and exit said housing and said housing mating with the coupling and decoupling mechanism of the hand held tool; and

a mechanism associated with said battery pack for dissipating heat in said battery pack housing and maintaining a desired temperature for optimizing performance during use of the cordless power tool.

20. A cordless power tool comprising:

a cordless power tool with a removable battery pack having a housing including a mechanism for coupling with said removable battery pack;

said removable battery pack comprising a housing with one or more cells in said housing, a mechanism for sinking heat associated with said one or more cells in said housing; and

said mechanism for sinking heat dissipating heat from said cells in said battery pack and maintaining a desired temperature for optimizing performance during use of the cordless power tool.

21. The cordless tool according to claim 20, wherein said mechanism includes a heat sink in contact with said one or more cells for dissipating heat from said one or more cells.

22. The cordless tool according to claim 20, said heat sink wicks heat from hotter cells to ambient.

23. A removable battery pack for a hand held cordless tool comprising:

a mechanism for coupling and decoupling the removable battery pack with the handheld cordless tool;

a housing with one or more cells in said housing, a mechanism for sinking heat associated with said one or more cells in said housing; and

said mechanism for sinking heat dissipating heat in said battery pack housing and maintaining a desired temperature for optimizing performance during use of the cordless power tool.

24. The removable battery pack according to claim 23, wherein said mechanism includes a heat sink in contact with said one or more cells for dissipating heat from said one or more cells.

25. A removable battery pack for a hand held cordless tool comprising:

a mechanism for coupling and the removable battery pack with the hand held cordless tool;

a housing with one or more cells in said housing, a mechanism for sinking heat associated with said one or more cells in said housing; and

said mechanism for sinking heat for dissipating heat in said battery pack housing and maintaining a desired temperature for optimizing performance during use of the cordless power tool.

26. A removable battery pack for a hand held cordless tool comprising:

a mechanism for coupling and decoupling with the removable battery with the hand held cordless tool;

a housing with one or more cells in said housing, a mechanism for sinking heat associated with said one or more cells in said housing; and

said mechanism for sinking heat for dissipating heat in said battery pack housing and maintaining a desired for optimizing performance during use of the cordless power tool.