Plural Housing Having Spacing Means Or Channels For Air Circulation And Short Prevention Patents (Class 429/148)
  • Patent number: 7993772
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 7964302
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for preparation of a secondary battery module. The process includes forming coupling through-holes having specific shapes at plate-shaped electrode terminals of a plurality of unit cells, stacking the unit cells one on another, and inserting coupling members through the coupling through-holes to couple the unit cells with each other. Consequently, the secure coupling and the electrical connection between the unit cells is accomplished without using additional members, such as cartridges, and therefore, a compact battery module having high coupling force is prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Woong Ha, Jeeho Kim, HanHo Lee
  • Patent number: 7955727
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery pack including: a plurality of cylindrical battery cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of layers; and a partition member for partitioning the battery cells; wherein each the battery cell is larger in diametral size on the positive electrode terminal side than on the negative electrode terminal side; the partition member includes a partition plate, and ribs formed in corners formed between the partition plate and support plates provided to be substantially orthogonal to the partition plate at substantially regular intervals, the ribs being operative to support the battery cells; and the ribs are formed correspondingly to the shape of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Naito
  • Patent number: 7951483
    Abstract: The present invention provides an assembled battery with reduced weight and high reliability that can achieve improvement of assembling easiness at low cost. An assembled battery is provided with a frame holding a plurality of unit cells 14 having positive polarity at one end and negative polarity at the other end. The frame is composed of two outer frames 2 having the same shape and an inner frame 3. The unit cells 14 constituting an assembled battery 1 are disposed on both sides of the inner frame 3, and one outer frame 2 and the other outer frame 2 are disposed such that the unit cells are sandwiched between the former outer frame 2 and the inner frame 3 and between the latter outer frame 2 and the inner frame 3. The two outer frames 2 are joined to the inner frame 3 through side face coupling portions 23 and vertical coupling portions 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Onuki, Takeyuki Goto, Koutarou Ikeda, Tunemi Aiba
  • Patent number: 7951478
    Abstract: A battery pack includes battery modules; battery module stacked members including the stacked battery modules; a battery module group including the battery module stacked members arranged in a plane; and a lower plate arranged to hold the battery module group. The lower plate includes a main body made from a resin, the main body supporting the battery module stacked members arranged in parallel, and including mounting surfaces each of which one of the battery module stacked members is mounted on; and metal frames each inserted and molded in one of the mounting surfaces, the metal frames being arranged in an arrangement direction of the battery module stacked members, and electrically insulated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshifumi Takamatsu
  • Publication number: 20110052963
    Abstract: A secondary battery including a can having at least two receiving spaces with a separation space therebetween, an electrode assembly received in the receiving spaces of the can, a collector electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and a cap plate coupled to an upper portion of the can to seal the can.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Donghyun Lee, Jeomsoo Kim, Heungtaek Shim
  • Patent number: 7896063
    Abstract: A fan blows air across a battery package, which includes battery modules in a holder. The holder includes fins, configured such that air contact areas of battery modules at an upstream part are smaller than those at a downstream part. The fins at the upstream part may be longer than those at the downstream part. Alternatively, fins at a first side of the battery modules may be longest at the upstream part. Fins at a second side may be shortest at the upstream part. An air channel between the fins and the battery modules narrows from the upstream part to the downstream part. The fins at the upstream part may be closer to corresponding battery modules than those at the downstream part. Each fin may define a substantially rectangular cross-section. Alternatively, each fin may have an inclined surface on an upstream side and/or a declined surface on a downstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor Japan R&D Center, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiro Shimoyama
  • Patent number: 7879483
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 7811699
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 7803482
    Abstract: A battery is provided with a battery stack body including a plurality of stacks of secondary batteries in each of which electrode plates, stacked via a separator, are accommodated and sealed in an outer sheath member, with electrode terminals correspondingly connected to the electrode plates and extracted from an outer peripheral edge of the outer sheath member, a pair of plate-like members, stacked as outermost layers of the battery stack body, respectively, so as to be opposed to each other, and a pressing mechanism pressing the plurality of secondary batteries via the pair of plate-like members. At least one of the pair of plate-like members having a characteristic exhibiting a maximum rigidity at a pressing center determined based on a plurality of pressing points of the at least one of the pair of plate-like members that are pressed by the pressing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Higashino, Satoshi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 7794870
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a battery having an electrode assembly, which can be charged and discharged, mounted in a plate-shaped battery case, and cathode and anode terminals protruding from opposite ends of the battery case, wherein the electrode terminals are deviated from each other about the vertical central axis on the plane of the battery cell while the electrode terminals are arranged in a symmetrical fashion, the battery case includes an upper case and a lower case, only one of which is provided with a location part for receiving the electrode assembly, and the electrode terminals are deviated toward the upper or lower case which has no location part on the vertical section of the battery cell, and a battery module including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: KiJae Kim, Jiheon Lee
  • Patent number: 7794871
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly with a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator, and a case mounting the electrode assembly therein. The case has a plurality of channels adapted to form flow paths with channels of a neighboring secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Sam Kim
  • Patent number: 7795845
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery module includes a plurality of unit cells; and a housing in which the unit cells are mounted and in which a coolant for controlling the temperature in the housing circulates. The unit cells are disposed in the housing on a slant at a predetermined angle with respect to an inflow of the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyu-Woong Cho
  • Patent number: 7758995
    Abstract: A serial interface interposed between two serially connected unit cells provides mechanical strength to the serial connection and conductive coupling therebetween. The serial interface includes an inter-connector having a first vent hole formed therein configured for conductively coupling an anode outer wall of a first unit cell and a cathode terminal of a second unit cell to each other; and a spacer having a second vent hole formed therein and configured to be disposed between the inter-connector and an anode outer wall of the second unit cell to prevent a short-circuit due to the movement of the inter-connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-yong Kim, Zin Park, Seung-il Kim
  • Patent number: 7758999
    Abstract: A secondary battery module comprises at least two battery cells laminated to a designated depth, in which an air guide block is interposed between leveled surfaces of the neighboring battery cells and a fixing block is interposed between protruded surfaces of the neighboring battery cells, the air guide blocks and the fixing blocks are fixed to each other using fasteners, and corresponding electrode terminals of the neighboring battery cells are interconnected in series by conductive and insulating connection members serving as bolts and nuts, thereby being conveniently installed in various industrial facilities and electric vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Suk Choo, Ji Sang Yu
  • Patent number: 7749650
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided in which at least one layer pair comprised of an inner, thermally insulating layer and an outer, high yield strength layer, surrounds the casing of a battery, the at least one layer pair inhibiting the flow of hot, pressurized gas from within the battery through perforations formed in the battery casing during a thermal runaway event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Patent number: 7749647
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided in which a sleeve comprised of one or more layers of a high yield strength material surrounds the casing of a battery, the sleeve inhibiting the flow of hot, pressurized gas from within the battery through perforations formed in the battery casing during a thermal runaway event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Alex Prilutsky, Scott Ira Kohn, Vineet Haresh Mehta
  • Patent number: 7746034
    Abstract: A battery module includes unit cells and a housing for accommodating the unit cells therein, the housing having paths for circulating a cooling medium. The housing includes: a unit cell receptor for receiving the unit cells, the unit cell receptor having an inner space with an inner spatial section area perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the housing; and a cooling medium circulator having an inner space for circulating a cooling medium, the inner space being in communication with the inner space of the unit cell receptor and having an inner spatial section area perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing. The inner spatial section area of the unit cell receptor is larger than the inner spatial section area of the circulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gun-Goo Lee, Tae-Yong Kim, Yoon-Cheol Jeon
  • Patent number: 7682732
    Abstract: A secondary battery module has a plurality of unit batteries adjacently spaced apart from each other. A barrier rib is disposed between adjacent unit batteries, the barrier rib having a plurality of protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Yong Kim, Gun-Goo Lee, Yoon-Cheol Jeon
  • Patent number: 7662508
    Abstract: A secondary battery module includes at least more than two battery aggregates having a plurality of unit batteries continuously arranged, and a housing receiving the battery aggregates, wherein, with respect to the arrangement direction of the unit batteries, each of the unit batteries of each of the battery aggregates is disposed in an oblique direction against the arrangement direction of the unit batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gun-Goo Lee, Tae-Yong Kim, Yoon-Cheol Jeon
  • Patent number: 7654352
    Abstract: A battery unit mounted in an electric vehicle is provided with a battery case and a plurality of battery modules. The battery case includes a tray member on the lower side and a cover member on the upper side. The tray member is fixed to side members by a beam member extending in a width direction of a vehicle body. Each battery module is composed of a plurality of cells. Among all the cells contained in the battery case, at least those cells on the outer peripheral side which are located near a flank of the vehicle body are located on the tray member so that a lamination direction of cell elements is coincident with the width direction of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Takasaki, Toshiaki Isogai
  • Patent number: 7651811
    Abstract: A thermal management system for fast charging and subsequent heavy use operation of high-capacity batteries. The thermal management system includes at least one motive driver arranged to impinge air on the terminal and strap structure of the high capacity battery. The terminal and strap structure in a specific aspect of the invention is protectively shrouded by a cover including a main top surface member having air inflow openings therein and a circumscribing wall depending downwardly therefrom and provided with gas egress openings along its medial and end portions. Such cover allows a high flux flow of air therethrough, for high efficiency cooling of the battery during fast charging and subsequent heavy use operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Aker Wade Power Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John F. Aker, James R. Wade
  • Publication number: 20090317695
    Abstract: A battery module that includes a plurality of electrochemical cells. Each of the electrochemical cells has a first end including at least one terminal and a second end having a vent. The plurality of electrochemical cells are arranged such that the second ends of a first set of the plurality of electrochemical cells face the second ends of a second set of the plurality of electrochemical cells. A central chamber is located between the second ends of the first set of the plurality of electrochemical cells and the second ends of the second set of the plurality of electrochemical cells. The central chamber is configured to receive gases released from the vents of the plurality of electrochemical cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Steven J. Wood, Majid Taghikhani, Dale B. Trester, Gary P. Houchin-Miller
  • Publication number: 20090311590
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cartridge-type lithium ion polymer battery pack including: at least two lithium ion polymer batteries in which adjacent electrode tabs are connected to each other so as to form a predetermined series circuit with a desired instrument; and an upper plate and a lower plate disposed at the top and the bottom of the whole lithium ion polymer batteries, respectively, and coupled to each other so that each lithium ion polymer battery is partially covered with them. Multiple layers of the battery packs are laminated and fixed with ease so as to conform to the electric power requirement for a desired instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Yul RO, John E. NAMGOONG
  • Patent number: 7601458
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly having positive and negative electrodes and a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, a case for receiving the electrode assembly, and a plurality of projections formed on an outer surface of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Duck-Chul Hwang, Geun-Bae Kim, Yong-Chul Park, Won-Il Jung, Jong-Hwa Lee, Jeom-Soo Kim, Euy-Young Jung
  • Publication number: 20090246616
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of batteries provided adjacent to one another. Each battery includes a case, which has a frame-shaped peripheral wall having open ends and a sidewall provided at one end of the peripheral wall, and a cell which is contained in the case and exposed at the other end of the peripheral wall. In two adjacent batteries of the batteries, the other end of a peripheral wall of one battery and one end of a peripheral wall of the other battery are opposed to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Taihei KOYAMA, Takeo Kakuchi, Yosuke Tonami, Takafumi Nakahama, Norihito Togashi, Kenji Sato
  • Publication number: 20090239136
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus that can achieve preferable holding and fixing of components constituting the power supply apparatus and can preferably prevent a liquid short-circuit and a leakage of current due to condensed water. The power supply apparatus includes a power supply unit having a plurality of power supply elements stacked with each other, an upper case and a lower case which house the power supply unit. The power supply further includes an auxiliary fastening portion which is fixed to the lower case and provides a space S between a lower surface of the power supply unit and the lower case, and fastening portions that are placed on the left and right of the power supply unit when viewed in a direction in which the power supply elements are stacked. The fastening portions fastening the power supply unit to the upper case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kouichi Nagamine, Masahiro Imai
  • Patent number: 7588849
    Abstract: In a solid-oxide fuel cell system, a fuel/air manifold conveys air and tail gas fuel from the anodes in a fuel cell stack assembly to a tail gas combustor, producing a heated combustor exhaust having the highest mass flow in the system. The exhaust is passed through a heat exchanger to warm incoming cathode reaction air, and the exhaust is partially cooled by the exchange. From the heat exchanger, the exhaust gas is passed through a tempering jacket space surrounding the fuel cells in the stack. During start-up of the system, the exhaust gas is hotter than the stack and so the warm-up period is shortened. During normal operation of the system, the exhaust gas is cooler than the operating temperature and therefore cooling of the stack is assisted by contact with the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl J. Haltiner, Jr., Subhasish Mukerjee, Sean M. Kelly, Diane M. England
  • Publication number: 20090208828
    Abstract: Assembled battery (80) includes two battery cells (20A, 20B) arranged in parallel, which are accommodated in single parallel-arranged module (50). Inter-battery airflow passage (65) is formed between parallel-arranged modules so as to allow cooling air to pass therethrough. Pressure contact members (60) each have hollow portion (61) formed by solid portion (66) and thin wall portion (61a) and are arranged in layers. Hollow portion (61) forms a cooling air passage. Cooling air supplied to the cooling air passage is sent to battery cell (20B) on the rear side, and directed and supplied toward the central part of battery cell (20B). Solid portions (66) in area A hold electrode tab (25) therebetween while pressure contact members (60) are in contact with each other in area B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicants: NEC Corporation, Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Kanai, Tadashi Shimamori
  • Patent number: 7572547
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Sakakibara
  • Publication number: 20090142629
    Abstract: An intrinsically-safe battery power supply for electrical equipment in underground mining and in other areas exposed to the danger of explosion is disclosed. The power supply includes at least one chargeable storage battery cell disposed in a battery housing. At least one storage battery cell comprises a chargeable lithium storage battery cell and the battery housing is configured to be pressure-resistant and to receive all lithium storage battery cells in a manner so as to be protected from explosion. The pressure-resistant configuration of the battery housing enables the use of lithium storage battery cells in underground mining. Once the battery power supply fulfils all requirements of ignition protection certification, even modern types of lithium storage battery cell can be disposed in the battery housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Jens Titschert, Norbert Schwarz, Jorg Wagener
  • Publication number: 20080318118
    Abstract: A battery pack assembly comprising a plurality of battery packs each including a plurality of cells and at least one metering plate for metering the quantity of air flowing respectively through each of the air paths of the battery packs. An inlet metering plate is disposed upstream of the battery packs to meter the uneven flow of cooling air generated by the inlet manifold. The inlet metering plate utilizes a plurality of apertures, which can vary in size and shape, to produce equal streams of cooling air to cool all the battery packs to a substantially uniform temperature. An outlet metering plate can be disposed downstream of the battery packs to meter the flow of outgoing cooling air through the channels of the upper cylindrical sections to produce equal air flow around all of the cells in a stack to cool all of the cells to a substantially uniform temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Debashis Ghosh, Steven C. Guzy
  • Patent number: 7438988
    Abstract: Secondary battery structure 100 has secondary batteries 110 equipped with metallic battery cases 111 , temperature detectors 120 for detecting temperature of the secondary batteries 110 , and supporting members 130 for supporting the temperature detectors 120 . Each of the temperature detectors 120 has a detector body 121 which detects surface temperature of the battery case 111 by contacting with a bottom surface 111c (temperature-detected surface) on the battery case 111, and a fixing portion 122 which engages with the supporting member 130 and fixes the temperature detector 120 to the secondary battery 110 while keeping the detector body 121 contact with the bottom surface 111c on the battery case 111.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Misu, Toyohiko Eto
  • Patent number: 7410722
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of batteries (2) and a plurality of holding frames (3) each of which is capable of accommodating and holding a corresponding one of the batteries (2) with spaces (10a, 10b) provided therein and which are opened on both side faces opposed to each other to form openings. When the holding frames (3) respectively accommodating and holding the batteries (2) are arranged with their openings aligned; end plates (4a, 4b) are arranged at both ends of the holding frames (3); and the end plates (4a, 4b) and the holding frames (3) are jointed as a unit so as to form an outer case (5) that forms a cooling space (6) surrounding each battery (2), a gas-discharge passage portion (18) is provided in each holding frame (3), which seals and covers a space surrounding a gas-discharge port (8) provided in the battery (2) and has connection ports (19a, 19b) opened on both side faces of the holding frame (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Iwamura, Kenji Kimura
  • Patent number: 7399551
    Abstract: In a battery cooling structure, a battery case housing a large number of battery modules is formed into the shape of a rectangular tube having a cooling air inlet and a cooling air outlet, and V-shaped cooling air guide channels having a decreasing flow-path cross sectional area are provided on inner faces of air guide plates that define upper and lower faces of the rectangular tube. The flow of cooling air is deflected by these V-shaped cooling air guide channels toward a central part on the downstream side, thus effectively cooling the battery modules disposed in the central part, for which the cooling effect is poor to make uniform the temperature of the battery modules, resulting in a suppressed variation in capacity and lifetime. Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide a bypass passage in the battery case, it is possible to simplify the structure of the battery case, reduce the dimensions, and improve the degree of freedom in the layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yagi, Eiji Koike, Harumi Takedomi, Takeo Nishibori
  • Patent number: 7351493
    Abstract: In a battery pack (1) that accommodates a plurality of batteries (11) arranged in parallel in a case (2) that forms a cooling-air passage (3), the cooling-air passage (3) and a gas-discharge passage (4) for discharging gas leaking from the battery (11) when the battery (11) falls into abnormal state are formed and separated from each other in the case (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Uemoto, Kenji Kimura, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Takabumi Fujii, Hironori Yukisada, Masatomo Nagatani
  • Patent number: 7323272
    Abstract: An air-cooled battery enclosure includes a battery tray frame having a floor section including a plurality of outer slats joined to a lower floor frame. A plurality of corner posts extend upward from the lower floor frame. An array of a plurality of criss-crossed inner slats are joined to the outer slats. Outer side walls join the posts, the outer slats and a set of inner slats in a criss-crossed array of cubbyhole compartments. Each cubby hole compartment contains a battery. A plurality of air spaces are located between respective adjacent walls of the enclosure frame for circulation of cooling gas, such as air. In an alternate embodiment stackable battery trays have outer walls with corrugations to space batteries within the tray from outer walls and an open mesh floor. Criss-crossed internal spring baffles with shallow bends within the trays form spaces for the circulation of cooling gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Odyne Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Mario Ambrosio, Konstantinos Sfakianos
  • Publication number: 20070238016
    Abstract: A battery pack includes battery modules; battery module stacked members including the stacked battery modules; a battery module group including the battery module stacked members arranged in a plane; and a lower plate arranged to hold the battery module group. The lower plate includes a main body made from a resin, the main body supporting the battery module stacked members arranged in parallel, and including mounting surfaces each of which one of the battery module stacked members is mounted on; and metal frames each inserted and molded in one of the mounting surfaces, the metal frames being arranged in an arrangement direction of the battery module stacked members, and electrically insulated with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventor: Toshifumi Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 7264901
    Abstract: A monoblock battery case and a monoblock battery. The monoblock battery case comprises a first and a second container each having partitions that divide the containers into cell compartments. The first container is attached to and co-operates with the second container to form one or more coolant channels disposed between the first and second containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Gow, Anthony Osgood, Subhash K. Dhar, Dennis A. Corrigan, Stanford R. Ovshinsky
  • Patent number: 7238443
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 7189473
    Abstract: A battery venting system that is useful for cordless power tools. The system can include a cell that may have a sleeve with a plurality of apertures surrounding a peripheral side face of the cell to enhance heat dissipation from the cell. A plurality of cells may be electrically connected to form a cell pack. A carrier includes an upper carrier and a lower carrier to sandwich a plurality of cells that are aligned parallel to each other. The carriers include at least one vent hole that are aligned with a gap formed from adjacent cells to define an elongated fluid flow path. A charger may be provided to receive a housing containing the carrier and may be provided with a fan to direct a flow into the fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Eastway Fair Company Limited
    Inventors: Roger Q. Smith, Xiao Ping Liu
  • Patent number: 7147963
    Abstract: A plurality of cells (1a to 1j) are abutted against each other and electrically connected on the short sides of rectangular battery housings (2), and binding plates (14, 14) disposed on both long sides are tied together with binding bands (13) to integrally link the cells (1a to 1j). Because the heat radiation conditions are equalized among the cells (1a to 1j), there is an extremely small temperature differential between the cells, charging efficiency, which varies with temperature conditions, is consistent, and there is no variance in battery capacity, so none of the cells are over-discharged, and battery life is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Kimoto, Mitsugu Takaki, Kenji Kimura, Toshinobu Yokoyama, Shinsuke Fukuda, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Toshihiro Katsuta, Kieko Asakawa
  • Patent number: 7141331
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing (3) having a plurality of cooling opening (2a, 2b) formed therein, and at least one separation wall (5) formed of a plurality of current cells (4) arranged flow-tight adjacent to each other, with the at least one separation wall (5) being arranged between at least two cooling openings (2a, 2b) and projecting flow-tight into an interior at the housing (3) at the side of the openings, so that the separation wall (5) is cooled by an air stream flowing therearound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hilt Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Ziegler, Rainer Ontl
  • Patent number: 7056616
    Abstract: A cordless power tool has a housing which includes a mechanism to couple with a removable battery pack. The battery pack includes one or more battery cells as well as a vent system in the battery pack housing which enables fluid to move through the housing. A mechanism is associated with the battery pack to dissipate heat from the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Moores, Jr., Rouse R. Bailey, Jr., Robert Bradus, John R. Cochran, Lee W. Ramstrom, Douglas L. Kreiser
  • Patent number: 7014949
    Abstract: A battery pack includes an outer case, and a plurality of cylindrical lithium ion secondary batteries accommodated in the outer case in vertical N rows and lateral M rows (N rows?M rows), with a gap between the secondary batteries, wherein the outer case has a draft port opened in a first wall facing an outer circumferential surface of the secondary batteries in the first vertical row, and an exhaust port opened in a second wall positioned at the opposite side of the first wall, in each secondary battery in the first vertical row and the second vertical row, a part of the outer circumferential surface, which is at a shorter distance from the first wall than any other parts, faces the draft port of the outer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kanai, Motoya Kanda, Katsumi Hisano, Hideo Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7014945
    Abstract: A cordless power tool has a housing which includes a mechanism to couple with a removable battery pack. The battery pack includes one or more battery cells as well as a vent system in the battery pack housing which enables fluid to move through the housing. A mechanism is associated with the battery pack to dissipate heat from the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Moores, Jr., Rouse R. Bailey, Jr., Robert Bradus, John R. Cochran, Lee W. Ramstrom, Fred S. Watts, Paul S. White, Daniele C. Brotto, Janet M. Embrey
  • Patent number: 6982131
    Abstract: On the opposite end walls of a flat, prismatic battery case of a battery module where electrode terminals are attached, protruding components are formed such as to protrude further than the electrode terminals. Terminal holes are formed in the end walls in which the electrode terminals are fitted, and the thickness of the end walls of the integral battery case in the vicinity of the terminal holes is not the same on both sides of each of the terminal holes. Also, one or a plurality of vertical and horizontal ribs are formed on the end walls between the electrode terminals and the protruding components. Further, a sealing structure is included for a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Izumi Yamamura, Noriyuki Fujioka, Shuhei Marukawa, Toyohiko Eto, Keiji Shukuya, Yoshiaki Ogata
  • Patent number: 6949309
    Abstract: A cordless power tool has a housing which includes a mechanism to couple with a removable battery pack. The battery pack includes one or more battery cells as well as a vent system in the battery pack housing which enables fluid to move through the housing. A mechanism is associated with the battery pack to dissipate heat from the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Moores, Jr., Rouse R. Bailey, Jr., Robert Bradus, John R. Cochran, Lee W. Ramstrom, Fred S. Watts, Paul S. White, Daniele C. Brotto, Janet M. Embrey
  • Patent number: 6858344
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of prismatic batteries including an electrode plate group and electrolyte housed in a prismatic battery case and being arranged in parallel and integrally bound. A metal plate is integrally embedded in the sidewall of the prismatic battery which is in parallel with the electrode plate group. A heat transfer part protruding from the prismatic battery case is provided at least one side of the metal plate. A heat exchanger is provided such that a heat exchanging surface of the heat exchanger is brought into contact with the heat transfer part protruding from the prismatic battery case of the prismatic battery. Then, the battery pack and the heat exchanger are fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei Marukawa, Ko Watanabe, Toyohiko Eto
  • Patent number: 6818343
    Abstract: A plurality of cells (1a to 1j) are abutted against each other and electrically connected on the short sides of rectangular battery housings (2), and binding plates (14, 14) disposed on both long sides are tied together with binding bands (13) to integrally link the cells (1a to 1j). Because the heat radiation conditions are equalized among the cells (1a to 1j), there is an extremely small temperature differential between the cells, charging efficiency, which varies with temperature conditions, is consistent, and there is no variance in battery capacity, so none of the cells are over-discharged, and battery life is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Kimoto, Mitsugu Takaki, Kenji Kimura, Toshinobu Yokoyama, Shinsuke Fukuda, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Toshihiro Katsuta, Kieko Asakawa