Battery venting system

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.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
     
     
         23 . A battery venting system comprising: 
 a. a charger including a first surface for electrically coupling with at least two chargeable battery packs;    b. a first outlet provided on the first surface and located adjacent at least a portion of a vent system of a battery pack;    c. a second outlet provided on the first surface and located adjacent at least a portion of a vent system of another battery pack;    d. a mechanism in the charger for simultaneously moving fluid through the vent system of the at least two battery packs.    
     
     
         24 . The battery venting system of  claim 23  wherein the mechanism in the charger includes a fan.  
     
     
         25 . The battery venting system of  claim 24  wherein the mechanism in the charger includes a duct to fluidically connect an output of the fan with each of the outlets.  
     
     
         26 . The battery venting system of  claim 25  wherein the duct includes a central portion with a first arm and a second arm extending from the central portion.  
     
     
         27 . The battery venting system of  claim 26  wherein the duct is substantially T-shaped.  
     
     
         28 . The battery venting system of  claim 24  wherein the fan is modulated by a sensor.  
     
     
         29 . The battery venting system of  claim 23  wherein the housing is removably coupled with a cordless power tool.  
     
     
         30 . The battery venting system of  claim 23  wherein the charger sequentially charges the at least two chargeable battery packs.  
     
     
         31 . The battery venting system of  claim 23  wherein the charger simultaneously charges the at least two chargeable battery packs.  
     
     
         32 . A battery charger comprising: 
 a. a charger including a first surface for electrically coupling with at least two chargeable battery packs, wherein the charger simultaneously charges the at least two chargeable battery packs; and,    b. a mechanism associated with the charger for simultaneously moving fluid through a vent system of the at least two battery packs.    
     
     
         33 . The battery charger of  claim 32  further comprising a first outlet provided on the first surface and located adjacent at least a portion of the vent system of a respective one of the at least two battery packs.  
     
     
         34 . The battery charger of  claim 33  further comprising a second outlet provided on the first surface and located adjacent at least a portion of the vent system of a respective another one of the at least two battery packs.  
     
     
         35 . A battery charger comprising a charger including a first surface for electrically coupling with at least two rechargeable battery packs, wherein the charger simultaneously charges the at least two rechargeable battery packs.  
     
     
         36 . The battery charger of  claim 35  wherein the first surface slidably receives the at least two rechargeable battery packs.  
     
     
         37 . The battery charger of  claim 35  wherein the first surface includes at least two slots to respectively receive the at least two rechargeable battery packs.  
     
     
         38 . The battery charger of  claim 37  wherein the at least two slots include electrical contacts.  
     
     
         39 . The battery charger of  claim 28  wherein the sensor senses one of a voltage of at least one cell of the battery pack or a temperature within the battery pack.  
     
     
         40 . The battery charger of  claim 28  wherein the sensor senses a temperature within the charger.  
     
     
         41 . The battery charger of  claim 34  further comprising an inlet to the mechanism wherein fluid flows from the inlet through the vent system of the at least two battery packs.  
     
     
         42 . The battery charger of  claim 41  further comprising a sensor to control the mechanism.