Battery cell extraction tool and method of using

An apparatus for removing a battery cell from a housing containing a plurality of contiguous battery cells within upstanding sidewalls of the housing, the cell having at least one upstanding threaded terminal, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongate handle for manipulation by a user;
• a polymeric, non-conductive bridge sized to span a pair of opposed sidewalls of the housing and comprising a pair of spaced apart vertically oriented plates connected in fixed relationship, each plate having a first open receptacle offset from the vertically movable strut for removably receiving the handle therein and being removable therefrom by lifting;
• a strut vertically movably associated with the bridge responsive to articulating input from the handle when operated by a user;
• and
• at least one polymeric, non-conductive attachment pivotably joined to the strut for removably joining to at least one upstanding terminal of a selected battery cell, wherein vertical movement of the strut responsive to manipulation of the handle by the user removes the selected battery cell from the housing independent of and without compensation for the height of the battery cell or position within the housing.

A method for removing a battery cell from a housing containing a grid comprising a plurality of contiguous battery cells within upstanding sidewalls of the housing, the cell having at least one upstanding threaded terminal, the method comprising the step of:

• a. providing a handle having a proximal end and a distal end remote therefrom and being adapted for manipulation by a user, the handle having opposed outwardly extending trunnions and at least one peg notch juxtaposed with the distal end a and having, a bridge sized to span a pair of opposed sidewalls of the housing and comprising a pair of spaced apart vertically oriented plates connected in fixed relationship, each plate having a first open receptacle offset from the vertically movable strut for removably receiving the handle therein and being removable therefrom by lifting, a strut vertically movably associated with the bridge responsive to articulating input from the handle when operated by a user;
• and at least one attachment pivotably joined to the strut for removably joining to at least one upstanding terminal of a selected battery cell, wherein vertical movement of the strut responsive to manipulation of the handle by the user removes the selected battery cell from the housing independent of and without compensation for the height of the battery cell or position within the housing;
• b. selecting a battery cell from the grid of battery cells;
• c. removably joining the attachment to a pair of terminals upstanding from the selected battery cell using complementary threaded fasteners;
• d. pivotally joining the attachment to a strut configured to be upstanding from the attachment and having mutually opposed pegs extending laterally outwardly therefrom;
• e. disposing the bridge across and upon opposed sidewalls of the housing;
• f. inserting the strut between the spaced apart plates of the bridge with the pegs pointed towards the plates;
• g. pivotably resting the trunnions of the handle into respective trunnion notches of the plates;
• h. intercepting two opposed pegs of the strut with the at least one peg notch of the handle with the proximal end handle disposed above the distal end of the handle;
• i. depressing the proximal end of the handle to thereby responsively lift the battery cell upward;
• j. disengaging the handle from the plate opposed pegs and the trunnion notches;
• k. re-engaging the handle at a pair of lower pegs by intercepting respective two opposed pegs of the strut with the at least one peg notch of the handle with the proximal end handle disposed above the distal end of the handle;
• and
• l. Repeating steps g through k until the battery cell is removed from the housing, where steps c, d, e, and f are performed in any order.