Abstract: A method and system for wirelessly tracking power tools and related devices to aid with inventory management and to help minimize, prevent, and recover misplaced or stolen tools throughout the job site. The tools and/or batteries include wireless transmitting capabilities (e.g., an ISM unit) to transmit data to a fob, puck repeater, and/or gateway over an ISM network. The gateway is operable to translate and output the ISM communications over a cellular network to a remote monitoring unit, such as a personal computer or smart phone. Additionally, the gateway is further operable to translate and output cellular communications from the remote monitoring unit to ISM communications over the ISM network. A wireless tethering system and method is also disclosed whereby an ISM battery places a power tool in a lock-out or limp mode after the ISM battery remains outside of ISM communications for a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: A starter battery system for an air cooled engine rated at less than 50 horsepower. The system includes four lithium iron phosphate cells and a charging circuit configured to be powered by rotation of an air cooled engine. A voltage developed by the charging circuit is applied to the four lithium iron phosphate cells without battery management circuitry provided between the charging circuitry and the four lithium iron phosphate cells. An engine which includes at least one piston, a rotatable crankshaft coupled to the at least one piston, a starter motor configured to selectively initiate rotation of the crankshaft, a lithium-ion battery in electrical communication with the starter motor, the lithium-ion battery having at least one cell, and a charging system configured to be powered by motion of at least one component of the engine. The charging system is configured to continuously apply a voltage potential to the at least one cell while the engine is in a running condition.

Abstract: A method and system for wirelessly tracking power tools and related devices to aid with inventory management and to help minimize, prevent, and recover misplaced or stolen tools throughout the job site. The tools and/or batteries include wireless transmitting capabilities (e.g., an ISM unit) to transmit data to a fob, puck repeater, and/or gateway over an ISM network. The gateway is operable to translate and output the ISM communications over a cellular network to a remote monitoring unit, such as a personal computer or smart phone. Additionally, the gateway is further operable to translate and output cellular communications from the remote monitoring unit to ISM communications over the ISM network. A wireless tethering system and method is also disclosed whereby an ISM battery places a power tool in a lock-out or limp mode after the ISM battery remains outside of ISM communications for a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: An electrical combination including a power tool and a battery pack. The power tool includes power tool terminals. The battery pack is configured to be interfaced with the power tool. The battery pack includes a battery pack housing, at least three terminals, and a plurality of battery cells. The battery pack terminals include a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a sense terminal. The at least three terminals are configured to be interfaced with the power tool terminals. The plurality of battery cells are arranged within and supported by the battery pack housing. Each of the battery cells has a lithium-based chemistry and a respective state of charge, and power is transferable between the battery cells and the power tool. A circuit is configured to monitor the battery cells, detect a charge imbalance among the battery cells, and prevent the battery pack from operating when the charge imbalance is detected.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes a chassis supporting a wheel, a cutting deck supported by the chassis and defining a cutting chamber, a battery supported by the chassis, and a chore motor electrically coupled to the battery. The chore motor includes a housing with a coil assembly, a rotor, and a drive shaft extending out of the housing. The chore motor is attached to the cutting deck so that at least a portion of the housing and the drive shaft are positioned in the cutting chamber. The lawn mower further includes a blade coupled to the drive shaft so that the blade rotates within the cutting chamber when the chore motor rotates the drive shaft, and a spring washer coupled between the drive shaft and the blade. Relative rotation between the blade and the drive shaft occurs in response to a torque on the blade exceeding a threshold value.

Abstract: A service vehicle for storing and transporting outdoor power equipment includes a loading/unloading ramp, a charging bay configured to charge a rechargeable battery pack mounted on a first piece of outdoor power equipment, a spare battery charging station configured to store and selectively charge a spare rechargeable battery pack, a user interface having a display, and a controller in communication with the user interface and having a processing circuit with a charging module. The controller is configured to receive a charge level of the rechargeable battery pack and the spare rechargeable battery pack from the charging module and instruct the user interface to display the charge levels.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes a chassis, a cutting deck, a chore motor, and a blade. The chassis supports several wheels. The cutting deck is supported by the chassis and defines a cutting chamber. The chore motor is electrically coupled to the battery. The chore motor includes a housing containing a coil assembly, a rotor, and a drive shaft extending out of the housing. The chore motor is attached to the cutting deck so that at least a portion of the housing and the drive shaft are positioned within the cutting chamber. The blade is coupled to the drive shaft and is configured to rotate within the cutting chamber when the chore motor rotates the rotor and drive shaft.

Abstract: An autonomous lawn mower includes removable batteries, one or more electric motors, a cutting blade, one or more wheels, an angle sensor, and a controller. The cutting blade is driven by one of the electric motors. The wheels are driven by one of the electric motors. The controller is configured to allow the lawn mower to perform a grass cutting function at a jobsite without human interaction. The controller is configured to determine whether a roll angle is greater than a first predefined amount using data from the angle sensor. In response to determining the roll angle is greater than the first predefined amount, the controller is configured to stop operation of one of the one or more electric motors configured to provide rotational drive power to the cutting blade.

Abstract: A method for conducting an operation including a power tool battery pack. The battery pack can include a housing, a first cell supported by the housing and having a voltage, and a second cell supported by the housing and having a voltage. The battery pack also can be connectable to a power tool and be operable to supply power to operate the power tool. The method can include discharging one of the first cell and the second cell until the voltage of the one of the first cell and the second cell is substantially equal to the voltage of the other of the first cell and the second cell.

Abstract: A method and system for wirelessly tracking power tools and related devices to aid with inventory management and to help minimize, prevent, and recover misplaced or stolen tools throughout the job site. The tools and/or batteries include wireless transmitting capabilities (e.g., an ISM unit) to transmit data to a fob, puck repeater, and/or gateway over an ISM network. The gateway is operable to translate and output the ISM communications over a cellular network to a remote monitoring unit, such as a personal computer or smart phone. Additionally, the gateway is further operable to translate and output cellular communications from the remote monitoring unit to ISM communications over the ISM network. A wireless tethering system and method is also disclosed whereby an ISM battery places a power tool in a lock-out or limp mode after the ISM battery remains outside of ISM communications for a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: A cell module assembly includes a first frame having a first plurality of pockets, a second frame spaced apart from the first frame and having a second plurality of pockets, a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells coupled to and extending between the second frame and the first frame, a first collector plate electrically connected to the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells and coupled to the first frame by a first curable adhesive, and a second collector plate electrically connected to the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells and coupled to the second frame by a second curable adhesive. Each one of the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells is received within a respective one of the first plurality of pockets and a respective one of the second plurality of pockets.

Abstract: A cell module assembly includes a top frame, a bottom frame, multiple lithium-ion battery cells, a top collector plate, a bottom collector plate, and a curable adhesive. The top frame includes protrusions that define first multiple pockets. The bottom frame includes protrusions that define second multiple pockets axially aligned with the first multiple pockets. Each of the first and the second multiple pockets have multiple windows. The battery cells are received within a pocket in each of the first and second multiple pockets. The top collector plate is coupled to the top frame and includes multiple apertures above the first multiple pockets. The bottom collector plate is coupled to the bottom frame. The top collector plate and the bottom collector plate are electrically connected to the battery cells. The curable adhesive is received within each window in the first multiple pockets and couples each battery cell to the top frame.

Abstract: An electrical combination. The electrical combination comprises a battery pack configured to be interfaced with a hand held power tool, a control component, and a semiconducting switch. The transfer of power from the battery pack to the hand held power tool is controlled by the control component and the switch based on one of a battery pack state of charge and a respective state of charge of one of a plurality of battery cells. A discharge current of the battery pack is regulated based on the switch being controlled into one of a first state and a second state by the control component to selectively enable the transfer power from the plurality of battery cells to the hand held power tool.

Abstract: A mower deck insert includes a first cutting chamber, a second cutting chamber, and a discharge passage extending adjacent to the first cutting chamber and the second cutting chamber. The first cutting chamber includes a first axial scroll extending about a first vertical axis. The first axial scroll includes a first upper surface having a first start region and a first end region. The second cutting chamber includes a second axial scroll extending about a second vertical axis. The second axial scroll includes a second upper surface having a second start region and a second end region. The first start region is vertically lower than the first end region, and the second start region is vertically lower than the second end region.

Abstract: An electrical combination. The electrical combination comprises a battery pack configured to be interfaced with a hand held power tool, a control component, and a semiconducting switch. The transfer of power from the battery pack to the hand held power tool is controlled by the control component and the switch based on one of a battery pack state of charge and a respective state of charge of one of a plurality of battery cells. A discharge current of the battery pack is regulated based on the switch being controlled into one of a first state and a second state by the control component to selectively enable the transfer power from the plurality of battery cells to the hand held power tool.

Abstract: A starter battery system for an air cooled engine rated at less than 50 horsepower. The system includes four lithium iron phosphate cells and a charging circuit configured to be powered by rotation of an air cooled engine. A voltage developed by the charging circuit is applied to the four lithium iron phosphate cells without battery management circuitry provided between the charging circuitry and the four lithium iron phosphate cells. An engine which includes at least one piston, a rotatable crankshaft coupled to the at least one piston, a starter motor configured to selectively initiate rotation of the crankshaft, a lithium-ion battery in electrical communication with the starter motor, the lithium-ion battery having at least one cell, and a charging system configured to be powered by motion of at least one component of the engine. The charging system is configured to continuously apply a voltage potential to the at least one cell while the engine is in a running condition.

Abstract: An engine includes at least one piston, a rotatable crankshaft, a starter motor, a lithium-ion battery, and a charging system. The rotatable crankshaft is coupled to the at least one piston. The starter motor is configured to selectively initiate rotation of the crankshaft. The lithium-ion battery is in electrical communication with the starter motor and has at least one cell. The charging system is powered by motion of at least one component of the engine. The charging system provides energy to the lithium-ion battery to charge the lithium-ion battery. The engine has a starting condition, a running condition, and a stopping condition. The charging system continuously applies a voltage potential to the at least one cell while the engine is in a running condition.

Abstract: A method and system for wirelessly tracking power tools and related devices to aid with inventory management and to help minimize, prevent, and recover misplaced or stolen tools throughout the job site. The tools and/or batteries include wireless transmitting capabilities (e.g., an ISM unit) to transmit data to a fob, puck repeater, and/or gateway over an ISM network. The gateway is operable to translate and output the ISM communications over a cellular network to a remote monitoring unit, such as a personal computer or smart phone. Additionally, the gateway is further operable to translate and output cellular communications from the remote monitoring unit to ISM communications over the ISM network. A wireless tethering system and method is also disclosed whereby an ISM battery places a power tool in a lock-out or limp mode after the ISM battery remains outside of ISM communications for a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: An electrical combination. The combination comprises a hand held power tool, a battery pack and a controller. The battery pack includes a battery pack housing connectable to and supportable by the hand held power tool, a plurality of battery cells supported by the battery pack housing, each of the plurality of battery cells having a lithium-based chemistry, being individually tapped and having an individual state of charge. A communication path is provided by a battery pack sense terminal and a power tool sense terminal. The controller is operable to monitor a state of charge of a number of battery cells less than the plurality of battery cells and to generate a signal based on the monitored state of charge of the number of battery cells less than the plurality of battery cells, the signal being operable to control the operation of the hand held power tool.

Abstract: An autonomous lawn mower includes removable batteries, one or more electric motors, a cutting blade, one or more wheels, an angle sensor, and a controller. The cutting blade is driven by one of the electric motors. The wheels are driven by one of the electric motors. The controller is configured to allow the lawn mower to perform a grass cutting function at a jobsite without human interaction. The controller is configured to determine whether a roll angle is greater than a first predefined amount using data from the angle sensor. In response to determining the roll angle is greater than the first predefined amount, the controller is configured to stop operation of one of the one or more electric motors configured to provide rotational drive power to the cutting blade.