Battery pack with multiple water discharge pathways

• US 9,172,115 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kolden, Michael, Sheeks, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Cano, Milton I
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIGNAN, MICHAEL L
• Application Number:
  US13/915,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20130330576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 429/7, 429/121, 361/728, 361/810
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/05 Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte H01M10/39 takes precedence
• 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 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• 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 50/516 by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/519 comprising printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/571 Methods or arrangements for affording protection against corrosion; Selection of materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/60 Arrangements or processes for filling or topping-up with liquids; Arrangements or processes for draining liquids from casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery pack including a housing, a latch mechanism, a printed circuit board connected to electrical terminals, and an internal frame. The housing includes a first and second portion. The first portion includes openings that receive the latch mechanism and openings that receive the terminals. The battery pack also includes a latch cover that protects against water infiltrating between the openings and the latch mechanism, and a terminal cover that protects against water infiltrating between the first housing portion and the terminals. Water that enters the battery pack is directed to the bottom of the battery pack. The water is then drained through openings in the lower housing portion. The internal frame includes openings that secure batteries within the lower housing portion with the help of wedges that are positioned in between adjacent rows of batteries.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a housing including an inner cavity, an interface for receiving a power tool, and drain holes on a base portion of the housing;

battery cells positioned within the cavity;

a first latch member extending through the housing;

a second latch member extending through the housing, the first and second latch members operable to secure the battery pack to the power tool;

electrical terminals electrically coupled to the battery cells and operable to interface with the power tool;

a latch cover within the inner cavity of the housing supporting the first and second latch members;

a first water discharge pathway extending along the latch cover, downward along a first space between the battery cells and the housing, to the drain holes;

wherein the first water discharge pathway directs water infiltrating the battery pack to the drain holes;

a terminal cover including openings; and

a second water discharge pathway including multiple substantially parallel channels extending from the openings of the terminal cover, downward along a second space between the battery cells and the housing, to the drain holes, wherein the second water discharge pathway directs water infiltrating the battery pack to the drain holes.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the latch cover includes a base portion having a first side and a second side and an elevated portion, the elevated portion extending between the first and second sides of the base portion.

3. The battery pack of claim 2, wherein the elevated portion defines a space between the latch cover and the battery cells.

4. The battery pack of claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board positioned between the latch cover and the battery cells.

5. The battery pack of claim 4, wherein the latch cover is disposed between an upper portion of the housing and the printed circuit board.

6. The battery pack of claim 4, wherein the latch cover includes a first side and a second side, the first and second sides extending beyond opposite sides of the printed circuit board.

7. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the first latch member is positioned above a first portion of the latch cover and the second latch member is positioned above a second portion of the latch cover, the first and second latch members being movable relative to one another and the latch cover.

8. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the latch cover is at least partially exposed to an exterior of the housing.

9. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the openings of the terminal cover receive the electrical terminals.

10. A battery pack comprising:

a housing including an inner cavity, an interface for receiving a power tool, and drain holes on a base portion of the housing;

battery cells positioned within the cavity;

a first latch member extending through the housing;

a second latch member extending through the housing, the first and second latch members operable to secure the battery pack to the power tool;

a latch cover within the inner cavity of the housing providing a horizontal support base for the first and second latch members;

electrical terminals electrically coupled to the battery cells and operable to interface with the power tool;

a terminal cover including openings that receive the electrical terminals; and

a first water discharge pathway including multiple substantially parallel channels extending from the openings of the terminal cover, downward along a first space between the battery cells and the housing, to the drain holes,

wherein the first water discharge pathway directs water infiltrating the battery pack to the drain holes.

11. The battery pack of claim 10 wherein the terminal cover is at least partially exposed to an exterior of the housing.

12. The battery pack of claim 10 further comprising a printed circuit board positioned between the terminal cover and the battery cells.

13. The battery pack of claim 12, wherein the terminal cover is disposed between the interface and the printed circuit board.

14. The battery pack of claim 12, wherein the terminal cover includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion supported on the printed circuit board and the second portion projecting downward along a side surface of the printed circuit board.

15. The battery pack of claim 10 further comprising a second water discharge pathway extending along the latch cover, downward along a second space between the battery cells and the housing, to the drain holes, wherein the second water discharge pathway directs water infiltrating the battery pack to the drain holes.

16. The battery pack of claim 10 further comprising an internal frame including channels that substantially align with the openings of the terminal cover, wherein the first water discharge pathway further includes the channels.

17. A battery pack comprising:

a housing including an inner cavity, an interface for receiving a power tool, and drain holes on a base portion of the housing;

battery cells positioned within the cavity;

a first latch member extending through the housing;

a second latch member extending through the housing, the first and second latch members operable to secure the battery pack to the power tool;

electrical terminals electrically coupled to the battery cells and operable to interface with the power tool;

a printed circuit board coupled to the electrical terminals;

a first cover within the inner cavity of the housing positioned between an upper portion of the housing and the printed circuit board, at least a portion of the first cover extending along a top surface of the printed circuit board and an overhang portion of the first cover projecting downward along a side surface of the printed circuit board;

a first water discharge pathway extending from the first cover downward along a first space between the battery cells, to the drain holes,

wherein the first water discharge pathway directs water infiltrating the battery pack to the drain holes;

a second cover positioned between the interface and the printed circuit board; and

a second water discharge pathway including multiple substantially parallel channels extending from the second cover downward along a second space between the battery cells, to the drain holes, wherein the second water discharge pathway directs water infiltrating the battery pack to the drain holes.

18. The battery pack of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the second cover extends along the top surface of the printed circuit board and an overhang portion projects downward along another side surface of the printed circuit board.

19. The battery pack of claim 17 wherein the first and second covers are supported by an internal frame that receives and secures the battery cells relative to the inner cavity of the housing.