A battery pack protection structure

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of battery safety, and specifically relates to a battery pack protection structure, which includes a housing. A battery pack is placed inside the housing. The battery pack is composed of multiple batteries. Electric connection tubes are symmetrically installed at the top of the housing. An exhaust pipe is installed at the top of the housing. A filter screen is provided inside the exhaust pipe. The battery pack is connected to the exhaust pipe through an air pipe. A detection box is installed at the top of the housing. A branch of the air pipe is connected to the detection box. A shaft is rotatably installed inside the detection box. A rotating rod is clamped on one end of the shaft, and a connecting rod is installed at the other end of the shaft. One end of the connecting rod is connected to a Bourdon tube, and the Bourdon tube is in a C shape. By setting the Bourdon tube in cooperation with the rotating rod and the connecting rod, the present invention can detect the hydrogen concentration generated by oxidation-reduction inside the battery pack. Then, in cooperation with the button, when there is a blockage, the rotating rod presses the button, so that the scraper cleans the blocked filter screen, which ensures the normal flow of the exhaust pipe to a certain extent.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of battery safety, and specifically to a battery pack protection structure. Background Art

[0002] The electrolyte in a lead-acid battery is generally sulfuric acid solution. During charging, hydrogen gas is generated through redox reactions. As is well known, hydrogen is a highly flammable gas. Existing lead-acid batteries are provided with exhaust holes. During the charging process, the hydrogen gas generated, when the electrolyte in each electrode chamber of the battery is evaporated, the gas will gather near the exhaust hole and be discharged from the exhaust hole.

[0003] However, the exhaust holes will become blocked during long-term use. In this case, hydrogen gas cannot be discharged from the battery, resulting in excessive accumulation of hydrogen gas in the battery. During this process, as long as a little spark appears, it is easy to cause the hydrogen gas in the battery to burn, and then the battery will deform and explode. Generally, the concentration of hydrogen gas in the battery accounts for 4% - 74% of the overall gas concentration in the battery. Once it exceeds 74%, it is prone to explosion.

[0004] Therefore, a battery pack protection structure is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a battery pack protection structure. By setting a Bourdon tube in cooperation with a rotating rod and a connecting rod, the hydrogen gas concentration generated by redox in the battery pack can be objectively detected. Then, in cooperation with a button, when a blockage occurs, the rotating rod presses the button, causing the scraper to clean the blocked filter screen, which ensures the normal flow of the exhaust pipe to a certain extent, so as to solve the problems raised in the above background art.

[0006] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] A battery pack protection structure, comprising:

[0008] A housing, inside which a battery pack is placed. The battery pack is composed of multiple batteries. On the top of the housing, power connection tubes are symmetrically installed. On the top of the housing, an exhaust pipe is installed. A filter screen is provided inside the exhaust pipe. The battery pack is connected to the exhaust pipe through an air pipe;

[0009] It further includes:

[0010] A detection device, which is provided at the upper end of the housing for detecting whether the exhaust pipe is blocked;

[0011] A cleaning device, which is provided inside the exhaust pipe and cooperates with the detection device.

[0012] Preferably, the detection device includes a detection box installed on the top of the housing. The branch of the air pipe is connected to the detection box. A shaft is rotatably installed in the detection box. One end of the shaft is clamped with a rotating rod, and the other end of the shaft is welded with a connecting rod. One end of the connecting rod is connected with a Bourdon tube. The Bourdon tube is C-shaped, and one end of the Bourdon tube is connected to the branch of the air pipe. A button is installed in the detection box. A cleaning device for cleaning the blockage of the exhaust pipe is arranged in the exhaust pipe, and the button is electrically connected to the cleaning device.

[0013] The electrolyte in a lead-acid battery is generally a sulfuric acid solution. During charging, hydrogen gas will be generated through redox reactions. As is well known, hydrogen is a highly flammable gas. Existing lead-acid batteries are equipped with exhaust holes, and the hydrogen gas generated during the charging process will be discharged from the exhaust holes. However, the exhaust holes will become blocked after long-term use. In this case, the hydrogen gas cannot be discharged, resulting in an excessive accumulation of hydrogen gas in the battery, which easily leads to the hidden danger of hydrogen explosion. Generally, the hydrogen concentration accounts for 4% - 74% of the overall gas concentration, and it is prone to explosion when it exceeds 74%.

[0014] When the lead-acid battery is charging, in order to objectively observe whether there is excessive accumulation of hydrogen gas, the Bourdon tube is connected to the branch of the air pipe. When the hydrogen gas is discharged through the exhaust pipe, some hydrogen gas will also pass through the battery pack branch. The Bourdon tube is an elastic sensitive element that measures pressure using the bending or torsional deformation of the tube. The contraction of the Bourdon tube drives the rotating rod to rotate through the connecting rod, similar to a pressure gauge. A button is provided at the corresponding numerical position where the hydrogen gas content concentration is approximately 70%. When the rotating rod presses the button under the drive of the Bourdon tube, it indicates that the hydrogen gas concentration in the battery is 70%, objectively indicating that the filter screen in the exhaust pipe is blocked, resulting in the accumulation of hydrogen gas due to the inability to discharge it. At this time, the button gives an electrical signal to the cleaning device, and the cleaning device starts to clean the filter screen.

[0015] The top material of the detection box is made of transparent glass. After the exhaust pipe is separated from the housing, personnel can judge the hydrogen gas level in the battery pack according to the position of the rotating rod. A threshold value is set on the detection box. When the rotating rod is lower than the threshold value, it proves that the hydrogen gas content in the battery pack is normal, enabling people to objectively observe the concentration value of hydrogen gas inside the lead-acid battery.

[0016] Preferably, the cleaning device includes a placement groove opened inside the exterior. Two electric push rods are bolted in the placement groove. The output shafts of the two electric push rods are jointly bolted with a scraping plate that cooperates with the filter screen. A brush is adhered to the side of the scraping plate close to the filter screen. A through groove that cooperates with the scraping plate is opened at the lower end of the exhaust pipe. A separation device for separating the exhaust pipe from the housing is arranged inside the housing.

[0017] After the rotating rod presses the button, the button gives electrical signals to two electric push rods, and the two electric push rods start to move reciprocally left and right. During this process, the bristles of the scraper will contact the filter screen, brushing off the impurities blocking the filter screen holes in the filter screen, providing space for hydrogen to be discharged, and reducing the probability of hydrogen accumulation in the battery pack, which has the potential risk of explosion;

[0018] When the rotating rod presses the button, the button continuously gives electrical signals to the two electric push rods, and the two electric push rods are always operating. However, if the cleaning effect of the scraper on the filter screen fails to reach the hydrogen generation rate, resulting in hydrogen still accumulating. It is set that after the button is pressed for 2 minutes and the button is still being pressed by the rotating rod, the detachment device is activated, disconnecting the entire exhaust pipe from the housing, allowing hydrogen to be directly discharged, preventing excessive hydrogen accumulation in the battery pack, reducing the probability of explosion, and extending the service life of the lead-acid battery.

[0019] Preferably, the detachment device includes a dovetail groove opened on the housing. A dovetail block that can slide in the dovetail groove is welded to the bottom of the exhaust pipe. A disc spring for pushing the exhaust pipe to detach is provided at the end of the exhaust pipe. Electromagnets for compressing the disc spring are provided at the corresponding positions of the disc spring and the housing. The two electromagnets are electrically connected to the battery pack.

[0020] Under normal circumstances, the electromagnets are energized, and the two electromagnets compress the disc spring. When too much hydrogen accumulates and the button is pressed for 2 minutes, the button stops giving electrical signals to the two electric push rods, and the two electric push rods contract and recover. At the same time, the button gives an electrical signal to the battery pack, and the battery pack stops supplying power to the electromagnets. Under the elastic force of the disc spring, the exhaust pipe is pushed out, and the dovetail block slides out of the dovetail groove towards the outside of the housing, allowing hydrogen to be discharged, preventing hydrogen accumulation, and thus avoiding the deformation or even explosion of the storage battery;

[0021] The cooperation of the dovetail groove and the dovetail block is set. Compared with the flat section of a cube and the curved surface of a cylinder, the contact surface between the dovetail groove and the dovetail block is larger, thereby making the dovetail block and the dovetail groove relatively stable and improving the stability of the exhaust pipe during normal operation.

[0022] Preferably, the shape of the dovetail groove is inclined downward, and the dovetail block matches the shape of the dovetail groove.

[0023] Due to space limitations, the disc spring is not suitable to be set too long, so the thrust given to the exhaust pipe is not enough to make the whole exhaust pipe break away from the shell. The dovetail groove is set to incline downward. The exhaust pipe and the dovetail block as a whole look like an inverted right triangle. After the disc spring gives a certain force to the exhaust pipe, the exhaust pipe and the dovetail block can slide downward under their own gravity, and then the whole exhaust pipe can break away from the shell, allowing the hydrogen in the battery pack to be discharged. In the case where the filter screen is blocked and not completely cleaned, the detachment of the exhaust pipe is accelerated, the rate of hydrogen discharge is increased, and the risk of possible explosion is reduced.

[0024] Preferably, a plurality of balls are provided on both sides of the dovetail block, and sliding grooves for cooperating with the balls are opened on both sides of the dovetail groove. Two limiting plates connected by springs are provided on one side of the shell, and two elastic clamping blocks are provided on each of the two limiting plates. Two clamping grooves for cooperating with the elastic clamping blocks are opened on the shell at positions corresponding to the two limiting plates.

[0025] Simply using the structure of the dovetail groove and the dovetail block to fix the exhaust pipe and the shell is not stable enough. Two limiting plates are provided on one side of the shell to limit the exhaust pipe, so as to prevent the exhaust pipe from sliding out of the shell following the dovetail block during normal operation, and then external impurities enter the battery pack, affecting the normal operation of the battery pack;

[0026] The contact area between the dovetail groove and the dovetail block is large, and thus the friction force will increase compared with other shapes. There may be a jamming phenomenon during the process of breaking away from the shell. A plurality of balls are provided on both sides of the dovetail block, and sliding grooves for cooperating with the balls are provided in the dovetail groove. When the exhaust pipe breaks away from the shell, the dovetail block can slide smoothly in the dovetail groove, avoiding the above situation. Otherwise, the exhaust pipe may not be completely detached, affecting the discharge of hydrogen, and there is a hidden danger of hydrogen accumulation and explosion, improving the smoothness of the exhaust pipe breaking away from the shell.

[0027] Elastic clamping blocks are provided on the limiting plates, and clamping grooves for cooperating with the elastic clamping blocks are provided in the shell. When the exhaust pipe and the dovetail block are under the action of the disc spring, the springs of the two limiting plates are squeezed and contracted. The elastic clamping blocks on each limiting plate are engaged with the corresponding clamping grooves, avoiding that when the exhaust pipe and the dovetail block are detached, the two limiting plates consistently resist both sides of the dovetail block under the action of the springs, thereby increasing the friction force on both sides of the dovetail block and making it more difficult for the exhaust pipe and the dovetail block to detach, improving the stability of detachment.

[0028] Preferably, an inclined plate for preventing impurities from entering the placement groove is welded to the lower end of the scraping plate close to the filter screen.

[0029] When the scraper cleans the filter screen, it will remove some impurities attached to the filter screen. Then, these impurities are likely to float into the placement groove in the exhaust pipe. When the impurities fall on the electric push rod, they are likely to enter the electric push rod through the gaps of the electric push rod, thereby affecting the stability of the electric push rod during operation. An inclined plate is welded to the lower end of the side of the scraper close to the filter screen, and the inclined plate cooperates with the edge of the placement groove. When cleaning, it can prevent impurities from falling into the placement groove, reducing the probability of the above situation occurring and improving the stability of the filter screen cleaning.

[0030] Preferably, a sieve plate for temporarily cleaning the brush hairs is provided in the placement groove.

[0031] When the electric push rod drives the scraper to clean the filter screen, impurities removed by the brushing will adhere to the brush hairs, which may affect the subsequent cleaning of the filter screen by the brush hairs. A sieve plate is provided in the placement groove. When the brush hairs move left and right reciprocally driven by the electric push rod, they will contact the sieve plate. During the contact between the brush hairs and the sieve plate, similar to a comb, the sieve plate will scrape off some attachments on the brush hairs, preventing the cleaning efficiency of the brush hairs on the filter screen from being too low due to excessive attachments.

[0032] Preferably, two inclined meshes are provided at the position where the air pipe is close to the exhaust pipe.

[0033] After the exhaust pipe and the dovetail block slide out of the dovetail groove, the air pipe of the battery pack is directly exposed to the outside. After the hydrogen gas in the battery pack is discharged through the air pipe, if not closed in time, some external impurities may enter the battery pack through the air pipe, which may affect the subsequent charging and discharging of the battery pack. Two inclined meshes are provided at the position where the air pipe is close to the exhaust pipe. While being able to discharge hydrogen gas, it can also reduce the probability of external impurities entering. After external impurities enter the battery pack, the electrolyte of the battery pack may need to be replaced. By providing the inclined meshes, while reducing the entry of external impurities, it can also reduce the replacement of the electrolyte in the battery pack, avoiding unnecessary waste and reducing economic losses.

[0034] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0035] 1. For the battery pack protection structure of the present invention, by setting the Bourdon tube in cooperation with the rotating rod and the connecting rod, the hydrogen concentration generated by oxidation-reduction in the battery pack can be objectively detected. Then, in cooperation with the button, when there is a blockage, the rotating rod presses the button, causing the scraper to clean the blocked filter screen, ensuring the normal flow of the exhaust pipe to a certain extent.

[0036] 2. The battery pack protection structure described in the present invention cooperates with the dovetail groove, dovetail block and exhaust pipe. When the filter is cleaned and there is still blockage, the hydrogen discharge rate cannot keep up with the hydrogen production rate. The disc spring gives the dovetail block and the exhaust pipe an initial force, and then cooperates with the gravity of the dovetail block and the exhaust pipe to separate from the outer shell, exposing the air pipe of the battery pack, so that the hydrogen in the air pipe can be discharged, avoiding the accumulation of hydrogen.

[0037] 3. A battery pack protection structure described in the present invention has a plurality of ball bearings on both sides of the dovetail block, and a slide groove cooperating with the ball bearings is opened in the dovetail groove. When the exhaust pipe is separated from the outer shell, the dovetail block can slide smoothly in the dovetail groove to avoid the possibility of getting stuck in the process of separating from the outer shell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Figure 1 A perspective view of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 It is a partial cross-sectional view of the front view of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 3 For the present invention Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional enlarged view of

[0041] Figure 4 It is a top view of a partial cross-section of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 5 It is a side partial cross-sectional view of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 6 For the present invention Figure 4 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0044] Figure 7 For the present invention Figure 5 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0045] Figure 8 It is a partial three-dimensional structural diagram of the detection box of the present invention.

[0046] In the figure: 1. shell; 2. exhaust pipe; 3. filter; 4. air pipe; 5. detection box; 6. shaft; 7. rotating rod; 8. connecting rod; 9. Bourdon tube; 10. button; 11. placement slot; 12. electric push rod; 13. scraper; 14. bristles; 15. dovetail slot; 16. dovetail block; 17. disc spring; 18. electromagnet; 19. ball; 20. slide; 21. limiting plate; 22. inclined plate; 23. screening plate; 24. inclined net; 25. elastic block; 26. slot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] See also Figures 1 to 8, the present invention provides a battery pack protection structure, and the technical solution is as follows:

[0048] During the charging process of lead-acid batteries, since the electrolyte is sulfuric acid solution, hydrogen gas will be released after redox reaction. Hydrogen gas is a highly flammable gas. Generally, the hydrogen concentration accounts for 4% - 74% of the overall gas concentration. If it exceeds 74%, it is prone to explosion. Generally, exhaust holes are provided on lead-acid batteries to discharge the released hydrogen gas to avoid excessive accumulation. However, the exhaust holes of existing lead-acid batteries may become blocked, and then hydrogen gas may accumulate, posing a potential explosion hazard for lead-acid batteries.

[0049] Embodiment 1:

[0050] Condition: The blockage in the exhaust hole filter 3 is relatively loose;

[0051] Working process: When the lead-acid battery needs to be charged, insert the charging cable of the lead-acid battery into the plug to start charging. The electrolyte in the battery pack starts to release hydrogen gas. The released hydrogen gas is discharged outside the battery through the air pipe 4 and the exhaust hole. At this time, part of the hydrogen gas branches through the air pipe 4 and reaches the detection box 5. The hydrogen gas enters the Bourdon tube 9. The Bourdon tube 9 will drive the connecting rod 8 to contract according to the hydrogen concentration. The connecting rod 8 then drives the rotating rod 7 to rotate through the shaft 6. When the hydrogen concentration reaches about 70%, the rotating rod 7 is driven by the Bourdon tube 9 to squeeze the button 10. The button 10 gives electrical signals to the two electric push rods 12. The two electric push rods 12 start to make reciprocating up and down movements, and at the same time drive the scraper 13 to clean the filter 3. The bristles 14 on the scraper 13 rub against the filter 3 during the reciprocating up and down movement. Since the blockage in the filter 3 is relatively loose, most of the impurities on the filter 3 can fall off during the cleaning process of the scraper 13 on the filter 3. The hydrogen gas in the exhaust hole can be discharged, and then the hydrogen concentration in the detection box 5 decreases. The Bourdon tube 9 elongates, driving the rotating rod 7 to rotate back and no longer squeezing the button 10. The button 10 then stops giving electrical signals to the two electric push rods 12, and the two electric push rods 12 retract and recover, and the battery charges normally.

[0052] Embodiment 2:

[0053] Condition: The blockage in the exhaust hole filter 3 is relatively dense and viscous;

[0054] Workflow: When the lead-acid battery is charging and the concentration of the evolved hydrogen reaches 70%, the Bourdon tube 9 drives the rotating rod 7 to squeeze the button 10. The button 10 gives electrical signals to the two electric push rods 12, and the two electric push rods 12 drive the scraper 13 to clean the filter screen 3. After 2 minutes, the cleaning effect of the filter screen 3 is not good, and the rate of hydrogen discharge cannot catch up with the rate of hydrogen evolution. The hydrogen in the battery pack continues to increase. At this time, the button 10 stops giving electrical signals to the two electric push rods 12, and the two electric push rods 12 retract and recover. At the same time, the button 10 stops giving electrical signals to the two electromagnets 18, and the two electromagnets 18 are powered off. Under the elastic force of the disc spring 17, an initial driving force is given to the exhaust pipe 2 and the dovetail block 16, so that the dovetail block 16 can squeeze the two limiting plates 21. The springs connected to the two limiting plates 21 are squeezed and contracted, and the elastic clamping blocks 25 on the two limiting plates 21 are engaged with the corresponding card slots 26 respectively to prevent the exhaust pipe 2 from being affected when it is detached. Under the action of the initial driving force given by the disc spring 17, the exhaust pipe 2 and the dovetail block 16 slide outward from the outer shell 1. Since the exhaust pipe 2 and the dovetail block 16 as a whole are similar to an inverted right triangle with the center of gravity downward and the dovetail groove 15 inclined downward, the dovetail block 16 and the exhaust pipe 2 slide outward under the action of gravity, so that the exhaust pipe 2 is detached from the outer shell 1, exposing the air pipe 4 of the battery pack, allowing the accumulated hydrogen to be discharged, preventing the lead-acid battery from deforming and even having the potential hazard of explosion;

[0055] When the person sees that the exhaust pipe 2 is detached, after 5 - 10 minutes, wait for the accumulated hydrogen to be discharged. By observing the position of the rotating rod 7 of the detection box 5, when the hydrogen is at a normal threshold, push the detached exhaust pipe 2 back into the dovetail groove 15 until the two limiting plates 21 clamp the dovetail block 16. Then the installation is completed, and the lead-acid battery can be charged normally.

Claims

1. A battery pack protection structure, comprising: A housing (1) with a battery pack placed inside. The battery pack is composed of multiple batteries. On the top of the housing (1), power connection tubes are symmetrically installed. An exhaust pipe (2) is installed on the top of the housing (1). A filter screen (3) is provided inside the exhaust pipe (2). The battery pack is connected to the exhaust pipe (2) through a connecting air pipe (4); It is characterized in that it further includes: A detection device. A detection device for detecting whether the exhaust pipe (2) is blocked is provided at the upper end of the housing (1); A cleaning device. A cleaning device cooperating with the detection device is provided inside the exhaust pipe (2); The detection device includes a detection box (5) installed on the top of the housing (1). A branch of the connecting air pipe (4) is connected to the detection box (5). A connecting shaft (6) is rotatably installed inside the detection box (5). One end of the connecting shaft (6) is connected to a rotating rod (7), and the other end of the connecting shaft (6) is connected to a Bourdon tube (9) through a connecting rod (8). The Bourdon tube (9) is in a C shape, and one end of the Bourdon tube (9) is connected to a branch of the connecting air pipe (4). A button (10) is installed inside the detection box (5). A cleaning device for cleaning the blockage of the exhaust pipe (2) is provided inside the exhaust pipe (2), and the button (10) is electrically connected to the cleaning device; The cleaning device includes a placement groove (11) opened inside the exterior. Two electric push rods (12) are installed inside the placement groove (11). The output shafts of the two electric push rods (12) are jointly connected to a scraping plate (13) that cooperates with the filter screen (3). A brush (14) is installed on the side of the scraping plate (13) close to the filter screen (3). A through groove cooperating with the scraping plate (13) is opened at the lower end of the exhaust pipe (2). A separating device for separating the exhaust pipe (2) from the housing (1) is provided inside the housing (1); The separating device includes a dovetail groove (15) opened on the housing (1). The bottom of the exhaust pipe (2) is connected to a dovetail block (16) that can slide inside the dovetail groove (15). A disc spring (17) for pushing the exhaust pipe (2) to separate is provided at the tail end of the exhaust pipe (2). Electromagnets (18) for compressing the disc spring (17) are provided at the positions corresponding to the housing (1) on the disc spring (17). The two electromagnets (18) are electrically connected to the battery pack.

2. The battery pack protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The dovetail groove (15) is shaped to slope downwards, and the dovetail block (16) is shaped to match the dovetail groove (15).

3. A battery pack protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of balls (19) are provided on both sides of the dovetail block (16). Sliding grooves (20) cooperating with the balls (19) are opened on both sides of the dovetail groove (15). Two limiting plates (21) connected by springs are provided on one side of the housing (1).

4. A battery pack protection structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: Two elastic clamping blocks (25) are provided on each of the two limiting plates (21). Two clamping grooves (26) cooperating with the elastic clamping blocks (25) are opened at the positions corresponding to the two limiting plates (21) on the housing (1).

5. A battery pack protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: A sloping plate (22) for preventing impurities from entering the placement groove (11) is connected to the lower end of the side of the scraping plate (13) close to the filter screen (3).

6. A battery pack protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: A sieve plate (23) for temporarily cleaning the bristles (14) is provided in the placement groove (11).

7. A battery pack protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two inclined meshes (24) are provided at a position where the connecting air pipe (4) is close to the exhaust pipe (2).

Images