Battery pack discharging device and method for discharging a battery pack

• US 8,981,724 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Klein, Martin J., McNeill, Daniel K., Alamgir, Mohamed, Nivelt, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/827,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 320/127
• US Class Current: 320/127
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery

Abstract

A battery pack discharging device is provided. The device includes a hand-held member having a handle portion and first and second actuation members extending from the handle portion. The device further includes a docking device having a housing, first and second switches, and a resistor. The housing has first and second apertures extending therethrough. First and second actuation members of the hand-held member are disposed in first and second apertures, respectively, of the housing such that the first and second actuation members transition the first and second switches, respectively, to first and second closed operational positions, respectively, to discharge the battery pack.

Claims

1. A battery pack discharging device for discharging a battery pack, comprising:

a hand-held member having a handle portion and first and second actuation members extending from the handle portion;

a docking device having a housing, first and second switches, and a resistor, the housing having first and second apertures extending therethrough, the first and second switches being disposed in the housing proximate to the first and second apertures, respectively, the first and second switches each having a normally-open operational position, the resistor being electrically coupled between the first and second switches, the first and second switches further configured to be electrically coupled to the battery pack;

the first and second actuation members of the hand-held member being configured to be disposed in the first and second apertures, respectively, of the housing of the docking device such that the first and second actuation members transition the first and second switches, respectively, to first and second closed operational positions, respectively; and

the first switch having a first movable contact member and a first stationary contact member, and the housing having a first movable electrically non-conductive tab disposed proximate to the first aperture.

2. The battery pack discharging device of claim 1, wherein the first movable contact member having a first operational position in which the first movable contact member is not physically contacting the first stationary contact member, and a second operational position in which the first movable contact member is physically contacting the first stationary contact member, the first actuation member being configured to contact the first movable electrically non-conductive tab when the first actuation member is disposed in the first aperture such that the first movable electrically non-conductive tab moves the first movable contact member from the first operational position to the second operational position thereof to transition the first switch to the first closed operational position.

3. The battery pack discharging device of claim 1, further comprising first and second latching tabs extending from the first handle portion in a first direction and being disposed proximate to first and second sides of the first actuation member.

4. The battery pack discharging device of claim 3, wherein the first and second latching tabs are configured to engage first and second catching portions, respectively, of the housing of the docking device when the first actuation member is disposed in the first aperture to prevent the first actuation member from being removed from the first aperture.

5. The battery pack discharging device of claim 1, wherein the second switch comprises a second movable contact member and a second stationary contact member, and the housing having a second movable electrically non-conductive tab disposed proximate to the second aperture.

6. The battery pack discharging device of claim 5, wherein the second movable contact member having a first operational position in which the second movable contact member is not physically contacting the second stationary contact member, and a second operational position in which the second movable contact member is physically contacting the second stationary contact member, the second actuation member being configured to contact the second movable electrically non-conductive tab when the second actuation member is disposed in the second aperture such that the second movable electrically non-conductive tab moves the second movable contact member from the first operational position to the second operational position thereof to transition the second switch to the second closed operational position.

7. The battery pack discharging device of claim 5, further comprising a first latching tab extending from the first handle portion in a first direction and being disposed proximate to the second actuation member.

8. The battery pack discharging device of claim 7, wherein the first latching tab is configured to engage a first catching portion of the housing of the docking device when the second actuation member is disposed in the second aperture to prevent the second actuation member from being removed from the second aperture.

9. The battery pack discharging device of claim 1, wherein the battery pack outputs an electrical current through the first switch, the resistor, and the second switch, to at least partially discharge the battery pack when the first and second switches have the first and second closed operational positions, respectively.

10. The battery pack discharging device of claim 1, wherein the first aperture has a first cross-sectional shape, and the second aperture has a second cross-sectional shape, the first cross-sectional shape being different than the second cross-sectional shape.

11. The battery pack discharging device of claim 10, wherein the first actuation member is configured to be disposed through the first aperture having the first cross-sectional shape, and the first actuation member cannot be disposed through the second aperture having the second cross-sectional shape to contact a movable electrically non-conductive tab.

12. The battery pack discharging device of claim 11, wherein the second actuation member is configured to be disposed through the second aperture having the second cross-sectional shape, and the second actuation member cannot be disposed through the first aperture having the first cross-sectional shape to contact a movable electrically non-conductive tab.

13. The battery pack discharging device of claim 1, wherein the hand-held member is constructed of an electrically non-conductive material.

14. The battery pack discharging device of claim 13, wherein the electrically non-conductive material is plastic.

15. A method for discharging a battery pack, comprising:

providing a battery pack discharging device having a hand-held member and a docking device;

the hand-held member having a handle portion, first and second actuation members, and first and second latching tabs;

the first and second actuation members extending from the handle portion;

the first and second latching tabs extending from the handle portion and being disposed proximate to first and second sides of the first actuation member;

the docking device having a housing, first and second switches, and a resistor, the housing having first and second apertures extending therethrough, the housing further having first and second catching portions therein, the first and second switches being disposed in the housing proximate to the first and second apertures, respectively, the first and second switches each having a normally-open operational position, the resistor being electrically coupled between the first and second switches, the first and second switches further configured to be electrically coupled to the battery pack; and

disposing the first and second actuation members of the hand-held member in the first and second apertures, respectively, of the housing of the docking device such that the first and second actuation members transition the first and second switches, respectively, to first and second closed operational positions, respectively, and the first and second latching tabs engage the first and second catching portions, respectively, of the housing to prevent the first actuation member from being removed from the first aperture.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising outputting an electrical current from the battery pack through the first switch, the resistor, and the second switch, to at least partially discharge the battery pack when the first and second switches have the first and second closed operational positions, respectively.

17. A battery pack discharging device for discharging a battery pack, comprising:

a hand-held member having a handle portion and an actuation member extending from the handle portion;

a docking device having a housing, a switch, and a resistor, the housing having an aperture extending therethrough, the switch being disposed in the housing proximate to the aperture, the switch having a normally-open operational position, the resistor being electrically coupled to the switch, the switch further configured to be electrically coupled to the battery pack;

the actuation member of the hand-held member being configured to be disposed in the aperture of the housing of the docking device such that the actuation member transitions the switch to a closed operational position; and

the switch having a first movable contact member and a first stationary contact member, and the housing having a first movable electrically non-conductive tab disposed proximate to the aperture.