Battery pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017110709-A1
Application number	US-201615393388-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 29, 2016
Priority date	Jun 12, 2012
Publication date	Apr 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A battery pack including a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The first housing portion is secured to the second housing portion and defines an interface for receiving a power tool. The battery pack also includes a frame received within the second housing portion, the frame including opening to secure a plurality of battery cells. The battery pack further includes a pair of battery cells of the plurality of battery cells stacked vertically in each of the openings. A wedge is positioned in each of the openings between the pair of battery cells. The battery pack also includes a printed circuit board positioned between the frame and the first housing portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A battery pack comprising:
a first housing portion secured to a second housing portion, the first housing portion defining an interface for receiving a power tool; a frame received within the second housing portion, the frame including openings to secure a plurality of battery cells; a pair of battery cells of the plurality of battery cells stacked vertically in each of the openings, the pair of battery cells having a first longitudinal axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a second longitudinal axis of the battery pack; and a wedge positioned in each of the openings between the pair of battery cells.

2 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the wedge includes a first recessed portion on a first face of the wedge and a second recessed portion on a second face of the wedge.

3 . The battery pack of claim 1 , further comprises:
a printed circuit board positioned between the frame and the first housing portion; and a weld strap that interconnects the plurality of battery cells to one another, the weld strap connecting the plurality of battery cells to the printed circuit board.

4 . The battery pack of claim 3 , further comprising:
electrical terminals extending from the printed circuit board and operable to interface with the power tool; and a terminal cover including a plurality of channels that receive the electrical terminals.

5 . The battery pack of claim 4 , wherein the terminal cover is at least partially exposed to the exterior of the first housing portion.

6 . The battery pack of claim 4 , wherein the frame includes a second plurality of channels that substantially align with the plurality of channels of the terminal cover.

7 . The battery pack of claim 6 , further comprising:
a first latch member extending through the first housing portion; and a second latch member extending through the first housing portion, the first and second latch members operable to secure the battery pack to the power tool.

8 . The battery pack of claim 7 , further comprising a latch cover supporting the first and second latch members.

9 . The battery pack of claim 8 , wherein the second housing portion includes drain holes on a battery pack base portion of the second housing portion.

10 . The battery pack of claim 9 , further comprising a water discharge pathway extending along the latch cover, downward along a space between the plurality of battery cells and the second housing portion, to the drain holes.

11 . The battery pack of claim 10 , wherein the water discharge pathway directs water infiltrating the battery pack to the drain holes.

12 . The battery pack of claim 11 , wherein the water discharge pathway further includes the second plurality of channels.

13 . The battery pack of claim 11 , wherein the latch cover includes a second 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 second base portion.

14 . The battery pack of claim 13 , wherein the elevated portion defines a space between the latch cover and the plurality of battery cells.

15 . A battery pack comprising:
a housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion, the first housing portion secured to the second housing portion, and the first housing portion defining an interface for receiving a power tool; a frame received within the housing, the frame including openings to secure a plurality of battery cells; a pair of battery cells of the plurality of battery cells stacked vertically in each of the openings; a wedge positioned in each of the openings between the pair of battery cells; and a printed circuit board positioned between the frame and the first housing portion.

16 . The battery pack of claim 15 , further comprising:
electrical terminals extending from the printed circuit board and operable to interface with the power tool; and a terminal cover including a plurality of channels that receive the electrical terminals.

17 . The battery pack of claim 16 , wherein the frame includes a second plurality of channels that substantially align with the plurality of channels of the terminal cover.

18 . A battery pack comprising:
a housing defining an interface for receiving a power tool; a plurality of battery cells received within the housing; a frame received within the housing, the frame including openings to secure the plurality of battery cells; a pair of battery cells of the plurality of battery cells stacked vertically in each of the openings; and a wedge positioned in each of the openings between the pair of battery cells, the wedge including a first recessed portion on a first face of the wedge that receives a first battery cell of the pair of battery cells in each of the openings and including a second recessed portion on a second face of the wedge that receives a second battery cell of the pair of battery cells in each of the openings.

19 . The battery pack of claim 18 , further comprising:
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; and a latch cover supporting the first and second latch members.

20 . The battery pack of claim 19 , further comprising:
a printed circuit board positioned between the frame and the housing.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Kolden Michael
• Sheeks Samuel

Classifications

• H01M50/516

  by welding, soldering or brazing · CPC title

• H01M50/519

  comprising printed circuit boards [PCB] · CPC title

• H01M50/60

  Arrangements or processes for filling or topping-up with liquids; Arrangements or processes for draining liquids from casings · CPC title

• H01M10/05

  Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte (H01M10/39 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M2220/30

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