Battery packs suitable for use with battery powered appliances
First Claim
1. A battery pack, comprising:
- a plurality of battery cells,a housing substantially enclosing the plurality of battery cells,a cooling air intake port and a cooling air exhaust port defined within the housing,at least one cooling air passage extending between the cooling air intake port and the cooling air exhaust port, the at least one cooling air passage being at least partially defined by peripheral side surfaces of the battery cells and an inner surface of the housing, wherein the plurality of battery cells includes upstream battery cells located at an upstream portion of the at least one cooling air passage and downstream battery cells located at a downstream portion of the at least one cooling air passage; and
at least one slope formed on a portion of the inner surface of the housing that defines the downstream portion of the at least one cooling air passage, each of the at least one slope locally-projecting from the inner surface of the housing towards a single one of the downstream battery cells and changing direction of cooling air flowing through the at least one cooling air passage towards the peripheral side surface of the single one of the downstream battery cells;
wherein the at least one slope comprises at least two slopes, each of the at least two slopes projecting towards a same one of the downstream battery cells located at a furthest downstream position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Cooling air intake port (52), cooling air exhaust port (55), and securing walls (86, 87), which contact and secure the side surfaces of one or more battery cells (72), may be defined within two battery pack housing halves (50, 80). When battery pack (99) is assembled, at least one cooling air passage (91, 92) is defined by the side surfaces of the battery cells, the interior surface of the battery pack housing, and the securing walls. The cooling air passage connects the cooling air intake port to the cooling air exhaust port. Further, the securing walls isolate or physically separate the cooling air passage from battery terminals (72a, 72b). By forcing cooling air through the cooling air passage, the battery cells can be effectively and efficiently cooled. In addition, if the battery terminals are isolated from the cooling air by the securing walls, the electrical contact areas of the battery cells are protected or shielded against outside moisture and foreign substances that may be introduced into the battery pack by the cooling air.
49 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A battery pack, comprising:
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a plurality of battery cells, a housing substantially enclosing the plurality of battery cells, a cooling air intake port and a cooling air exhaust port defined within the housing, at least one cooling air passage extending between the cooling air intake port and the cooling air exhaust port, the at least one cooling air passage being at least partially defined by peripheral side surfaces of the battery cells and an inner surface of the housing, wherein the plurality of battery cells includes upstream battery cells located at an upstream portion of the at least one cooling air passage and downstream battery cells located at a downstream portion of the at least one cooling air passage; and at least one slope formed on a portion of the inner surface of the housing that defines the downstream portion of the at least one cooling air passage, each of the at least one slope locally-projecting from the inner surface of the housing towards a single one of the downstream battery cells and changing direction of cooling air flowing through the at least one cooling air passage towards the peripheral side surface of the single one of the downstream battery cells; wherein the at least one slope comprises at least two slopes, each of the at least two slopes projecting towards a same one of the downstream battery cells located at a furthest downstream position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification