Battery cell module and battery pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11145932-B2
Application number	US-201916573649-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2019
Priority date	Sep 24, 2018
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A battery cell module configured to be at least partially located within a housing of a battery pack. The battery cell module includes a frame. The frame includes a first frame half and a second frame half. The first frame half and the second frame half define a battery cell compartment for receiving a battery cell. The first frame half includes a first end wall and a wedge member affixed to the first end wall. The wedge member includes a first wedge portion and a second wedge portion. The first wedge portion and the second wedge portion define a post opening. The second frame half includes a second end wall and a post affixed to the second end wall at a first end of the post. The post is configured to be inserted into the post opening of the wedge member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery pack comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of battery cells located within the housing;
a battery cell module at least partially located within the housing, the battery cell module configured to support the plurality of battery cells, the battery cell module including:
a frame including a first frame half and a second frame half, the first frame half and the second frame half defining a battery cell compartment for receiving the plurality of battery cells,
the first frame half including:
a first end wall,
an elastically bendable wedge member affixed to the first end wall, the wedge member including a first wedge portion and a second wedge portion, the first wedge portion and the second wedge portion defining a post opening having a circular cross-section,

the second frame half including:
a second end wall,
a post affixed to the second end wall at a first end of the post,

wherein the post is configured to be inserted into the post opening of the wedge member.

2. The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the circular cross-section has a first diameter along the length of the wedge member.

3. The battery pack of claim 2 , wherein the wedge member includes a plurality of annular surfaces.

4. The battery pack of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of annular surfaces is configured to contact and support a circumferential wall of one of the plurality of battery cells.

5. The battery pack of claim 2 , wherein:
the post has a second diameter at the first end of the post and a third diameter at a second end of the post; and
the third diameter is smaller than the second diameter.

6. The battery pack of claim 5 , wherein the third diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

7. A battery pack comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of battery cells located within the housing;
a battery cell module at least partially located within the housing, the battery cell module configured to support the plurality of battery cells, the battery cell module including:
a frame including a first frame half and a second frame half, the first frame half and the second frame half defining a battery cell compartment for receiving the plurality of battery cells,
the first frame half including:
a first end wall,
a wedge member connected to the first end wall, the wedge member including a first wedge portion and a second wedge portion, the first wedge portion and the second wedge portion defining a post opening,

the second frame half including:
a second end wall,
a post connected to the second end wall at a first end of the post,

wherein the post is configured to be inserted into the post opening of the wedge member.

8. The battery pack of claim 7 , wherein the post opening has a circular cross-section.

9. The battery pack of claim 8 , wherein the circular cross-section has a first diameter along the length of the wedge member.

10. The battery pack of claim 9 , wherein the wedge member includes an annular surface.

11. The battery pack of claim 10 , wherein the annular surface is configured to contact and support a circumferential wall of one of the plurality of battery cells.

12. The battery pack of claim 9 , wherein:
the post has a second diameter at the first end of the post and a third diameter at a second end of the post; and
the third diameter is smaller than the second diameter.

13. The battery pack of claim 12 , wherein the third diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

14. The battery pack of claim 13 , wherein the wedge member is made of an elastically bendable material.

15. A battery cell module configured to be at least partially located within a housing of a battery pack, the battery cell module comprising:
a frame including a first frame half and a second frame half, the first frame half and the second frame half defining a battery cell compartment for receiving a battery cell,
the first frame half including:
a first end wall,
a wedge member connected to the first end wall, the wedge member including a first wedge portion and a second wedge portion, the first wedge portion and the second wedge portion defining a post opening,

the second frame half including:
a second end wall,
a post connected to the second end wall at a first end of the post,

wherein the post is configured to be inserted into the post opening of the wedge member.

16. The battery cell module of claim 15 , wherein the post opening has a circular cross-section having a first diameter along the length of the wedge member.

17. The battery cell module of claim 16 , wherein the wedge member includes an annular surface.

18. The battery cell module of claim 17 , wherein the annular surface is configured to contact and support a circumferential wall of the battery cell.

19. The battery cell module of claim 16 , wherein:
the post has a second diameter at the first end of the post and a third diameter at a second end of the post;
the third diameter is smaller than the second diameter; and
the third diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

20. The battery cell module of claim 19 , wherein wedge member is made of an elastically bendable material.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Didier Theodore W

Classifications

• H01M2220/30

  Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop · CPC title

• H01M50/213 Primary

  adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence) · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M50/247

  specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers · CPC title

• H01M50/291 Primary

  characterised by their shape · CPC title