Battery pack including a support frame

• US 8,343,643 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Miller, William, Jerabek, Jesse, Scott, Zach
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, Robert B
• Application Number:
  US12/860,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20120045671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 429/71, 429/72, 429/82, 429/87, 429/99, 429/100, 429/120, 429/148, 429/158, 429/159
• US Class Current: 429/71
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6235 Power tools
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6554 Rods or plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6562 with free flow by convection only
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack including a support frame. The support frame includes a plurality of recesses for receiving a plurality of battery cells, a first vent, a second vent, a first peripheral support section, a second peripheral support section, and an air passage. The first vent is located on a first distal end of the support frame, the second vent is located on a second distal end of the support frame, and the air passage is located between the first vent and the second vent. The first and second peripheral support sections space apart and securely hold the plurality of battery cells within the battery pack.

Claims

1. A battery pack, the battery pack comprising:

a housing portion including a first air vent;

a support frame configured to receive a plurality of battery cells and to space apart the battery cells from one another, the support frame including

a second air vent positioned at a first end of the support frame,

a third air vent positioned at a second end of the support frame, and

an air passage positioned between the second air vent and the third air vent, the first air vent positioned on the same side of the support frame as the third air vent, and the first air vent at least partially isolated from the third air vent by a heat sink.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising a circuit assembly, the circuit assembly including

a printed circuit board,

a plurality of terminals, and

the heat sink.

3. The battery pack of claim 2, wherein the circuit assembly is electrically isolated from the support frame.

4. The battery pack of claim 2, wherein the circuit assembly is positioned above the support frame.

5. The battery pack of claim 2, wherein the circuit assembly is secured to the support frame.

6. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board positioned above the support frame.

7. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising a side housing portion configured to fasten to the support frame.

8. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the support frame includes a first peripheral support section and a second peripheral support section.

9. The battery pack of claim 8, wherein the air passage is formed between the first peripheral support section and the second peripheral support section.

10. The battery pack of claim 9, wherein the air passage is uniform in width between the first peripheral support section and at least a portion of the second peripheral support section.

11. The battery pack of claim 9, wherein an outer portion of at least one of the plurality of battery cells between the first peripheral support section and the second peripheral support section is substantially completely exposed to air within the air passage.

12. A battery pack, the battery pack comprising:

a housing including a first air vent;

a support frame configured to receive a plurality of battery cells, the battery cells being spaced apart from one another by the support frame, the support frame including

a second air vent positioned at a distal end of the support frame, the second air vent positioned below the first air vent, and the second air vent being at least partially isolated from the first air vent by a heat sink;

a first peripheral support section;

a second peripheral support section; and

a recess within the support frame having a uniform width between the first peripheral support section and the second peripheral support section,

wherein an outer surface of at least one of the plurality of battery cells between the first peripheral support section and the second peripheral support section is substantially completely exposed to air within the recess.

13. The battery pack of claim 12, further comprising a printed circuit board positioned above the support frame.

14. The battery pack of claim 12, further comprising a circuit assembly, the circuit assembly including

a printed circuit board,

a plurality of terminals, and

the heat sink.

15. The battery pack of claim 14, wherein the circuit assembly is electrically isolated from the support frame.

16. The battery pack of claim 15, wherein the circuit assembly is positioned above the support frame.

17. The battery pack of claim 16, wherein the circuit assembly is secured to the support frame.

18. A battery pack comprising:

a support frame configured to receive a plurality of battery cells, the plurality of battery cells physically spaced apart from one another by the support frame, the support frame including

a first air vent positioned at a first end of the support frame,

a second air vent positioned at a second end of the support frame,

a first peripheral support section,

a second peripheral support section, and

an air passage formed between the first peripheral support section and the second peripheral support section and extending between the first air vent and the second air vent,

wherein an outer surface of at least one of the plurality of battery cells between the first peripheral support section and the second peripheral support section is substantially completely exposed to air within the air passage.

19. The battery pack of claim 18, wherein the air passage is substantially uniform in width between the first peripheral support section and at least a portion of the second peripheral support section.

20. The battery pack of claim 18, wherein the air passage includes a first section and a second section.