Battery assembly

• US 8,741,474 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2012
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Melnyk, Steven G., Bublitz, Scott D., Conrad, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Takeuchi, Yoshitoshi
• Application Number:
  US13/645,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20130089764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/178
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• 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 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• 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

Abstract

A battery assembly includes a housing having an inside surface and an outside surface. The outside surface has a bottom portion, a side portion, and a junction portion between the bottom portion and the side portion. The inside surface defines an internal cavity, and a drain aperture extends through the wall from the outside surface to the cavity at the junction portion. At least one battery cell is disposed within the cavity. A contact is coupled to the housing and is in electrical communication with the battery cell.

Claims

1. A battery assembly comprising:

a battery housing including

a wall having an outside surface and an inside surface, the outside surface including a bottom portion, a side portion, and a beveled junction portion between the bottom portion and the side portion, the inside surface defining an internal cavity,

a drain channel located on the wall so that an opening of the drain channel is within the beveled junction portion, wherein the drain channel does not extend through the wall from the outside surface to the cavity, and

a drain aperture having an opening with a smaller cross-sectional area than the opening of the drain channel, the drain aperture disposed along a center portion of the drain channel, wherein the drain aperture extends through the wall from the outside surface to the cavity at the junction portion;

at least one battery cell disposed within the internal cavity; and

a contact coupled to the housing and in electrical communication with the battery cell,

wherein the battery assembly is for a power hand tool.

2. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the drain channel and the drain aperture define a weep hole.

3. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the drain aperture has a substantially rectangular cross section.

4. The battery assembly of claim 1, further comprising a battery charge level indicator disposed on the housing.