Liquid discharging mechanism, battery box, battery and electrical device

Abstract

The present application relates to a drainage mechanism, a battery case, a battery and an electrical device, wherein the drainage mechanism comprises: a valve seat having a mounting cavity; a valve core, mounted on the valve seat and at least partially accommodated in the mounting cavity; and a deformable member, accommodated in the mounting cavity and connected between the valve seat and the valve core; wherein the deformable member is configured to deform after contacting a target liquid, so that the valve core and the valve seat are deformed. In the present application, when the accommodating cavity is kept dry, the drainage mechanism can seal the connecting hole, so that the accommodating cavity remains sealed, ensuring the normal operation of the battery cells in the accommodating cavity; when the target liquid enters the accommodating cavity, the deformable member is deformed after contacting the target liquid, and the drainage channel between the valve core and the valve seat is immediately connected, so that the inside of the accommodating cavity is connected to the outside, so as to facilitate the discharge of the target liquid from the accommodating cavity and keep the environment in the accommodating cavity dry.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a liquid discharge mechanism, a battery case, a battery, and an electrical device. Background Art

[0002] To ensure the normal use of the battery, the inside of the battery box must be kept dry. Otherwise, the liquid inside the battery box will come into contact with the electrical connection parts of the battery, which will cause abnormal battery insulation, high-voltage short circuit, and even cause fire and explosion.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to drain the liquid inside the battery box in time to avoid affecting the performance of the battery. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a drainage mechanism, a battery box, a battery and an electrical device to facilitate timely drainage of the liquid inside the battery box, keep the inside of the battery box dry, and ensure the safe use of the battery.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a liquid discharge mechanism comprising a valve seat, a valve core, and a deformable member. The valve seat has a mounting cavity, the valve core is mounted on the valve seat and at least partially accommodated within the mounting cavity, and the deformable member is accommodated within the mounting cavity and connected between the valve seat and the valve core. The deformable member is configured to deform upon contact with a target liquid, causing the valve core and valve seat to separate to form a liquid discharge channel.

[0006] When the deformable element comes into contact with the target liquid, it deforms and changes volume, causing the valve core and valve seat to separate, forming a drainage channel. This allows the target liquid to be discharged from the drainage channel in a timely manner, achieving automatic drainage of the target liquid and ensuring a dry environment in which the drainage mechanism is installed.

[0007] In some embodiments, the valve core is movably assembled on the valve seat, and the deformable member is configured to be deformed after contacting the target liquid, so that the valve core moves relative to the valve seat until the two are separated to form a liquid discharge channel.

[0008] The above structure allows for a tight connection between the valve core and valve seat when the valve core is relatively stationary, ensuring a good seal between the two. When the valve core moves relative to the valve seat, a drainage channel is quickly formed between the two, allowing the target liquid to be smoothly discharged through the drainage channel, resulting in a better drainage effect.

[0009] In some embodiments, the valve core includes a core shaft and a base. The core shaft includes a first end, which is an axial end of the core shaft. The first end extends into the installation cavity and is connected to the base through the installation cavity. The deformable part abuts between the valve seat and the base.

[0010] On the one hand, the core shaft provides a support base for the base and the deformable member. On the other hand, the deformable member's deformation force causes the base to move away from the valve seat, ensuring that the deformation of the deformable member in the core shaft's axial direction is converted into the amount of movement away from the base and valve seat. This allows for the faster formation of a drainage channel between the base and valve seat, allowing the target liquid to be discharged more quickly.

[0011] In some embodiments, the base is removably connected to the first end of the mandrel.

[0012] This makes the connection between the base and the core shaft more flexible, making the installation process of the drainage mechanism more convenient. In addition, because the base is detachably connected to the first end of the core shaft, when the deformable member contacts the target liquid and deforms, the deforming force of the deformable member can cause the base to synchronously move the core shaft along the core shaft's axial direction away from the valve seat, thereby more quickly forming a drainage channel between the base and the valve seat.

[0013] In some embodiments, the drainage mechanism includes a first sealing member disposed on the surface of the base facing the valve seat. The first sealing member is configured such that when the deformable member is not in contact with the target liquid, the first sealing member seals between the valve seat and the base. After the deformable member contacts the target liquid, at least a portion of the first sealing member disengages from at least one of the valve seat and the base, thereby forming a drainage channel between the valve seat and the base. The provision of the first sealing member can improve the sealing performance between the valve seat and the base.

[0014] In some embodiments, a limiting portion is formed on the core shaft, and the liquid discharge mechanism further includes an elastic member, which is pressed between the limiting portion and the valve seat along the axial direction of the core shaft.

[0015] Thus, the elastic member can provide a pre-tightening force between the core shaft and the valve seat, making the connection between the two tighter.

[0016] In some embodiments, the limiting portion is formed on a portion of the core shaft protruding out of the valve seat, and the limiting portion is protruding along the outer circumference of the core shaft.

[0017] Therefore, under the action of the deformation force of the deformable part, the core shaft can move synchronously with the base in the direction away from the valve seat, so that the deformation of the deformable part is completely converted into the drainage channel between the base and the valve seat, so that the target liquid can be discharged from the drainage channel more quickly.

[0018] In some embodiments, the deformable member is a liquid-absorbing expansion member. When the deformable member expands after absorbing liquid, its volume increases, thereby pushing the base to move away from the valve seat, thereby separating the base and the valve seat to create a drainage channel, allowing the target liquid to be smoothly discharged from the valve seat.

[0019] In some embodiments, a bayonet is formed on the valve seat, communicating between the exterior and the mounting cavity. The bayonet serves as an inlet for a target liquid in the structure to be discharged to enter the mounting cavity of the liquid discharge mechanism, allowing the target liquid to contact a deformable member in the mounting cavity, causing the deformable member to deform, thereby forming a drainage channel between the base and the valve seat for the target liquid to be discharged.

[0020] In a second aspect, the present application provides a battery case comprising a case body and a drain mechanism. The case body comprises a receiving cavity, and the case body defines a connection hole connecting the exterior to the receiving cavity. The drain mechanism is assembled within the connection hole. The drain mechanism is the drain mechanism described above.

[0021] When the drain mechanism is installed in the connection hole, it can drain the target liquid from the chamber, keeping it dry. This prevents the target liquid from soaking the electrical connections and potentially causing safety hazards such as battery insulation abnormalities, high-voltage short circuits, or fire and explosion, thereby improving battery safety. Furthermore, the drain mechanism responds immediately upon contact with the target liquid, eliminating the need for manual intervention and effectively improving drainage efficiency.

[0022] In some embodiments, the drain mechanism includes a second sealing member that is sealed between the box body and the valve seat. The second sealing member can convert the rigid connection between the box body and the valve seat into an elastic connection, thereby making the connection between the box body and the valve seat tighter and improving the sealing performance of the accommodating chamber.

[0023] In some embodiments, a bayonet is provided on the valve seat in the discharge mechanism, communicating between the outside and the installation cavity. The valve seat is installed in the connecting hole through the bayonet, and one end of the bayonet abuts against the cavity wall of the accommodating cavity.

[0024] On the one hand, the bayonet can fix the discharge mechanism to the bottom plate of the box body and seal it in the connection hole. On the other hand, the bayonet can also serve as an inlet for the target liquid in the receiving chamber to enter the installation chamber, so that the target liquid can enter the installation chamber and contact the deformable member.

[0025] In some embodiments, the box body includes a top cover, side panels, and a bottom panel, which together enclose a receiving cavity, and the connecting hole is provided on the bottom panel. Providing the connecting hole on the bottom panel can better facilitate the discharge of the target liquid in the receiving cavity.

[0026] In some embodiments, the connection holes include at least two, and the connection holes are evenly arranged along the outer edge of the bottom plate. Thus, different connection holes can realize the collection and discharge of target liquid at different positions on the bottom plate, which can make the target liquid discharge more thorough.

[0027] In some embodiments, a drainage portion is provided on the bottom plate, and the drainage portion is used to drain the target liquid to the connecting hole. The drainage portion can drain the target liquid at various positions on the bottom plate and gather it around the connecting hole so that the target liquid can be discharged from the receiving cavity through the connecting hole.

[0028] In some embodiments, the drainage portion is configured as a drainage groove, wherein the bottom wall height of the drainage groove gradually increases from one end connected to the connection hole toward the other end. Thus, the drainage groove can collect the target liquid and cause the target liquid to flow within the drainage groove toward the connection hole, thereby increasing the flow velocity of the target liquid and thereby increasing the discharge velocity of the target liquid.

[0029] In a third aspect, the present application provides a battery, comprising the battery case as described above and a battery cell accommodated in the accommodation cavity.

[0030] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides an electrical device comprising the battery as described above, wherein the battery is used to provide electrical energy.

[0031] The above-mentioned drainage mechanism, battery case, battery and electrical device, when the storage chamber of the battery case is kept dry, the drainage mechanism can be used to seal the connecting hole, so that the storage chamber remains sealed and ensures the normal operation of the battery cells in the storage chamber; when the target liquid enters the storage chamber, the deformable part in the drainage mechanism can be deformed after contacting the target liquid, thereby forming a drainage channel between the valve core and the valve seat in the first time, thereby connecting the inside of the storage chamber with the outside, so as to facilitate the discharge of the target liquid from the storage chamber, keep the environment in the storage chamber dry, and reduce the probability of safety accidents. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle in some embodiments of the present application;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a battery in some embodiments of the present application;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a battery cell in some embodiments of the present application;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a partial enlarged view of the liquid discharge mechanism in some embodiments of the present application in a state where no liquid is absorbed;

[0036] Figure 5 This is a partial enlarged view of the liquid discharge mechanism in the liquid absorption state in some embodiments of the present application;

[0037] Figure 6 This is a schematic structural diagram of the liquid discharge mechanism in some embodiments of the present application;

[0038] Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the battery box in some embodiments of the present application;

[0039] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A top view of the battery case shown in ;

[0040] Figure 9 for Figure 7 Cross-sectional view in the AA direction;

[0041] Explanation of the accompanying drawings: 1000, vehicle; 100, battery; 200, controller; 300, motor; 10, battery case; 20, battery cell; 11, first part; 12, second part; 13, box body; 14, drainage mechanism; 21, end cover; 22, shell; 23, battery cell assembly; 21a, electrode terminal; 131, accommodating chamber; 132, connecting hole; 133, top cover; 134, side plate; 135, bottom plate; 141, valve seat; 142, valve core; 143, deformable part; 144, drainage channel; 145, first sealing member; 146, elastic member; 147, second sealing member; 1411, installation chamber; 1412, bayonet; 1421, core shaft; 1422, base; 1421a, limit portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the specific embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description sets forth many specific details to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without violating the scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0043] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0044] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. Throughout the description of this application, "plurality" means at least two, for example, two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0045] In this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection or electrical connection; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two elements or interaction between two elements, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0046] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0047] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be an intermediate element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation methods.

[0048] Currently, market developments indicate that power batteries are becoming increasingly widely used. They are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal, wind, and solar power plants, but are also widely used in electric vehicles like electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric vehicles, as well as in military equipment and aerospace. As power battery applications continue to expand, market demand is also growing.

[0049] In the battery structure, several battery cells are electrically connected by tabs to form an energy body, which is housed in a cavity within the battery case, forming a complete battery structure. To ensure proper battery operation, the cavity must be kept dry. If liquids such as water enter the cavity, they can submerge the electrical connections, potentially causing battery insulation abnormalities, high-voltage short circuits, and even fire and explosion.

[0050] However, the applicant has found that batteries often have sealing failure during actual use. When the battery seal fails, if there is liquid in the battery installation environment, the liquid can easily enter the storage cavity, thereby affecting the safety performance of the battery.

[0051] Specifically, for example, when the battery is used in a vehicle, when the vehicle wades through water, external liquid can easily enter the accommodating cavity through the battery box and submerge the electrical connection part, thereby affecting the safety performance of the battery.

[0052] When this happens, the battery case is usually opened manually to drain the liquid inside. However, this method is not only cumbersome to operate, but also fails to drain the water immediately after the battery case has entered the water, which can easily cause safety accidents due to untimely drainage.

[0053] Based on the above considerations, in order to achieve the discharge of liquid inside the battery case and solve the problem of untimely discharge of liquid inside the battery case, the inventor has designed a battery case after in-depth research. By opening a connecting hole on the battery case and sealing a drainage mechanism in the connecting hole, the drainage mechanism can automatically open as soon as the target liquid enters the battery case, thereby achieving timely discharge of the target liquid, ensuring that the interior of the battery case remains dry, and reducing the probability of safety accidents.

[0054] The batteries described in the embodiments of the present application are suitable for use in electrical devices, which may include, but are not limited to, mobile phones, laptop computers, electric toys, electric tools, battery-powered vehicles, electric vehicles, ships, spacecraft, and the like. The electric toys may include fixed or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric vehicle toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, and the spacecraft may include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, and the like.

[0055] For the convenience of description, the following embodiments are described by taking a vehicle 1000 as an example of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0056] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1A schematic structural diagram of a vehicle 1000 provided for some embodiments of the present application. The vehicle 1000 may be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle. The new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an extended-range vehicle, etc. A battery 100 is provided inside the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 may be provided at the bottom, head or tail of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 may be used to power the vehicle 1000. For example, the battery 100 may serve as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may further include a controller 200 and a motor 300. The controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to power the motor 300, for example, to meet the power requirements for starting, navigating and driving the vehicle 1000.

[0057] In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 can serve not only as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1000.

[0058] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is an exploded view of a battery 100 provided in some embodiments of the present application. The battery 100 includes a battery case 10 and a battery cell 20, with the battery cell 20 housed within the battery case 10. The battery case 10 is used to provide a storage space for the battery cell 20 and can have various structures. In some embodiments, the battery case 10 can include a first portion 11 and a second portion 12, which overlap each other and together define a storage cavity for accommodating the battery cell 20. The second portion 12 can be a hollow structure with one end open. The first portion 11 can be a plate-like structure, with the first portion 11 overlapping the open side of the second portion 12, so that the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 together define a storage cavity. The first portion 11 and the second portion 12 can also be hollow structures with one end open, with the open side of the first portion 11 overlapping the open side of the second portion 12. Of course, the battery case 10 formed by the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 can have various shapes, such as a cylinder, a rectangular parallelepiped, etc.

[0059] In the battery 100, there may be multiple battery cells 20, and the multiple battery cells 20 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection. A hybrid connection refers to a combination of series and parallel connections among the multiple battery cells 20. The multiple battery cells 20 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection, and then the entire battery cell 20 may be housed within the housing 10. Of course, the battery 100 may also be in the form of a battery module, in which multiple battery cells 20 are first connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection, and then the multiple battery modules are further connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection to form an entire battery cell, and then housed within the housing 10. The battery 100 may also include other structures, for example, the battery 100 may further include a busbar component for electrically connecting the multiple battery cells 20.

[0060] Each battery cell 20 can be a secondary battery or a primary battery, and can also be a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited thereto. The battery cell 20 can be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or in other shapes.

[0061] Please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 The following is a schematic diagram of the decomposition structure of a battery cell 20 provided in some embodiments of the present application. A battery cell 20 is the smallest unit that makes up a battery. Figure 3 The battery cell 20 includes an end cover 21, a shell 22, a battery cell assembly 23 and other functional components.

[0062] The end cap 21 is a component that covers the opening of the housing 22 to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 20 from the external environment. The shape of the end cap 21 can be adapted to the shape of the housing 22 to match the housing 22. Optionally, the end cap 21 can be made of a material with a certain hardness and strength (such as an aluminum alloy). This prevents the end cap 21 from deforming when subjected to compression or collision, giving the battery cell 20 greater structural strength and improved safety. The end cap 21 can be provided with functional components such as electrode terminals 21a. The electrode terminals 21a can be used to electrically connect to the battery cell assembly 23 to output or input electrical energy to the battery cell 20. In some embodiments, the end cap 21 can also be provided with a pressure relief mechanism for relieving internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 reaches a threshold. The end cap 21 can also be made of a variety of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not particularly limited in this regard. In some embodiments, an insulating member may be provided inside the end cap 21 to isolate the electrical connection components in the housing 22 from the end cap 21 to reduce the risk of short circuit. For example, the insulating member may be made of plastic, rubber, or the like.

[0063] The housing 22 is a component that cooperates with the end cap 21 to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20. This internal environment can be used to accommodate the battery cell assembly 23, electrolyte, and other components. The housing 22 and end cap 21 can be separate components. An opening can be provided in the housing 22, and the end cap 21 is placed over the opening to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20. Alternatively, the end cap 21 and housing 22 can be integrated. Specifically, the end cap 21 and housing 22 can form a common connection surface before other components are inserted into the housing. When the interior of the housing 22 needs to be enclosed, the end cap 21 is placed over the housing 22. The housing 22 can have a variety of shapes and sizes, such as a rectangular parallelepiped, a cylindrical shape, a hexagonal prism, etc. Specifically, the shape of the housing 22 can be determined based on the specific shape and size of the battery cell assembly 23. The housing 22 can be made of a variety of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and this embodiment of the present application does not impose any specific limitations on this.

[0064] The battery cell assembly 23 is a component in the battery cell 100 where electrochemical reactions occur. One or more battery cell assemblies 23 may be contained in the shell 22. The battery cell assembly 23 is mainly formed by winding or stacking positive and negative electrode sheets, and a separator is usually provided between the positive and negative electrode sheets. The parts of the positive and negative electrode sheets with active substances constitute the main body of the battery cell assembly 23, and the parts of the positive and negative electrode sheets without active substances each constitute a tab. The positive and negative electrode tabs may be located together at one end of the main body or respectively at both ends of the main body. During the charge and discharge process of the battery, the positive electrode active substance and the negative electrode active substance react with the electrolyte, and the tabs connect the electrode terminals to form a current loop.

[0065] See also Figure 4 and Figure 5 One embodiment of the present application provides a liquid discharge mechanism 14, comprising a valve seat 141, a valve core 142, and a deformable member 143. The valve seat 141 has a mounting cavity 1411. The valve core 142 is mounted on the valve seat 141 and at least partially accommodated in the mounting cavity 1411. The deformable member 143 is accommodated in the mounting cavity 1411 and connected between the valve seat 141 and the valve core 142. Furthermore, the deformable member 143 is configured to deform upon contact with a target liquid, causing the valve core 142 to separate from the valve seat 141 to form a liquid discharge channel 144.

[0066] The above-mentioned liquid discharge mechanism 14 can be applied to the battery case 10 to discharge the target liquid in the receiving cavity 131 of the battery case 10. Of course, the liquid discharge mechanism 14 can also be applied to other devices, which will not be described in detail here.

[0067] It should be noted that the valve seat 141 refers to the component of the drain mechanism 14 that is fixedly connected to the external structure. For example, when the drain mechanism 14 is used in the battery case 10, the valve seat 141 can realize the connection between the drain mechanism 14 and the battery case 10, so that the drain mechanism 14 is fixedly installed in the battery case 10.

[0068] The valve core 142 refers to a component in the discharge mechanism 14 that can cooperate with the valve seat 141 to open and close the discharge channel 144 .

[0069] The deformable member 143 is a component that deforms when in contact with the target liquid and separates the valve core 142 from the valve seat 141 to form the liquid discharge channel 144 due to its own deformation.

[0070] In addition, the target liquid refers to a liquid substance that needs to be discharged through the liquid discharge mechanism 14, and may include one or more of water, coolant, and other liquid substances.

[0071] like Figure 4 As shown, when the deformable member 143 does not contact the target liquid, the volume of the deformable member 143 does not change. At this time, the valve core 142 and the valve seat 141 are tightly connected, that is, the liquid discharge mechanism 14 is in a closed state. Figure 5 As shown, when deformable member 143 contacts the target liquid, it deforms, causing its volume to change, forcing valve core 142 and valve seat 141 to separate, forming drainage channel 144. This effectively opens drainage mechanism 14. This allows the target liquid to be promptly discharged from drainage channel 144, achieving automatic drainage and ensuring a dry environment in which drainage mechanism 14 is installed.

[0072] Specifically, when the drainage mechanism 14 is applied to the battery case 10, under normal circumstances, the accommodating chamber 131 of the battery case 10 is in a dry state. At this time, the deformable member 143 does not contact the target liquid, and the drainage mechanism 14 is in a closed state to isolate the accommodating chamber 131 of the battery case 10 from the external environment. When the target liquid enters the battery case 10, the deformable member 143 contacts the target liquid and deforms. Under the deformation force of the deformable member 143, the drainage mechanism 14 opens, and the valve core 142 and the valve seat 141 separate to form a drainage channel 144. The target liquid can be discharged from the accommodating chamber 131 through the drainage channel 144. In this way, the environment inside the accommodating chamber 131 is kept dry, and the target liquid is prevented from wetting the electrical connection parts in the accommodating chamber 131, which may cause safety hazards such as abnormal insulation, high-voltage short circuit, or fire and explosion of the battery 100, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0073] In addition, the liquid discharge mechanism 14 can be automatically opened under the deformation of the deformable member 143 when the deformable member 143 contacts the target liquid, without the need for manual operation, thereby effectively improving the liquid discharge efficiency.

[0074] It should be noted that the volume change of the deformable part 143 can be larger or smaller, and through the change in volume, the drainage channel 144 between the valve core 142 and the valve seat 141 is switched from a closed state when the deformable part 143 is not deformed to an open state, so that the target liquid can be discharged from the drainage channel 144.

[0075] In some embodiments, the valve core 142 is movably assembled on the valve seat 141 , and the deformable member 143 is configured to deform after contacting the target liquid, so that the valve core 142 moves relative to the valve seat 141 to form a drainage channel 144 therebetween.

[0076] The valve core 142 can move relative to the valve seat 141. When the volume of the deformable part 143 changes after contacting the target liquid, the valve core 142 can move in a direction away from the valve seat 141 under the action of the deformation force of the deformable part 143, thereby separating the valve core 142 and the valve seat 141 to form a drainage channel 144 for the target liquid to be discharged.

[0077] The above structure allows the valve core 142 and valve seat 141 to be tightly connected when the valve core 142 and valve seat 141 are relatively stationary, ensuring a good seal therebetween. When the valve core 142 moves relative to the valve seat 141, a drainage channel 144 is quickly formed between the two, allowing the target liquid to be smoothly discharged through the drainage channel 144, resulting in a better drainage effect.

[0078] In some embodiments, the valve core 142 includes a core shaft 1421 and a base 1422. The core shaft includes a first end, which is an axial end of the core shaft. The first end extends into the installation cavity 1411 and is connected to the base 1422 through the installation cavity 1411. The deformable member 143 abuts between the valve seat 141 and the base 1422.

[0079] The deformable member 143 is deformed after contacting the target liquid, and the base 1422 moves away from the valve seat 141 under the action of the deformation force until the valve seat 141 and the base 1422 separate to form the liquid discharge channel 144 .

[0080] Specifically, the core shaft 1421 is constructed as a hollow shaft structure, and the center position of the base 1422 protrudes upward to form a connecting portion, which is inserted into the core shaft 1421 to achieve connection with the core shaft 1421.

[0081] Furthermore, the connecting portion and the core shaft 1421 can be elastically connected, for example, by providing an elastic connector. The elastic connector is initially compressed, thereby providing a preload force for the connection between the base 1422 and the core shaft 1421. When the volume of the deformable member 143 changes after contact with the target liquid, the compression of the elastic connector changes under the action of the deformation force, causing the core shaft 1421 to separate from the base 1422, thereby gradually forming the drainage channel 144, allowing the target liquid to be discharged from the drainage channel 144.

[0082] In addition, the core shaft 1421 can provide a supporting basis for the base 1422 and the deformable member 143. The deformable member 143 is filled between the core shaft 1421 and the valve seat 141 along the circumference of the core shaft 1421, and one end of the deformable member 143 along the axial direction of the core shaft 1421 abuts against the base 1422, and the other end abuts against the valve seat 141. It can ensure that the deformation amount of the deformable member 143 in the axial direction of the core shaft 1421 is converted into the movement amount between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141 away from each other, so that the drainage channel 144 is formed more quickly between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141, so that the target liquid can be discharged faster.

[0083] In some embodiments, the base 1422 is detachably connected to the first end of the core shaft 1421. The deformable member 143 deforms upon contact with the target liquid, and the base 1422 drives the core shaft 1421 to move axially under the action of the deformation force until the base 1422 separates from the valve seat 141 to form the drainage channel 144.

[0084] Specifically, the base 1422 and the first end of the core shaft 1421 can be connected by threads to achieve a detachable connection between the two. This makes the connection between the base 1422 and the core shaft 1421 more flexible and the installation process of the liquid discharge mechanism 14 more convenient.

[0085] In addition, when the base 1422 is detachably connected to the first end of the core shaft 1421, when the deformable member 143 contacts the target liquid and is deformed, under the action of the deformation force of the deformable member 143, the base 1422 can drive the core shaft 1421 to move synchronously along the axial direction of the core shaft 1421 in a direction away from the valve seat 141, thereby forming a drainage channel 144 between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141 more quickly.

[0086] In some embodiments, the drain mechanism 14 includes a first sealing member 145 , which is disposed on a surface of the base 1422 facing the valve seat 141 . The first sealing member 145 is configured as follows:

[0087] When the deformable member 143 does not contact the target liquid, the first sealing member 145 is sealed between the valve seat 141 and the base 1422; after the deformable member 143 contacts the target liquid, at least part of the first sealing member 145 is separated from at least one of the valve seat 141 and the base 1422, so that a drainage channel 144 is formed between the valve seat 141 and the base 1422.

[0088] To facilitate fixing the first sealing member 145 , a first fixing groove may be provided on the surface of the base 1422 facing the valve seat 141 , and the first sealing member 145 may be confined in the first fixing groove.

[0089] Furthermore, to ensure a tight seal between valve seat 141 and base 1422, first sealing member 145 is configured as an elastic sealing ring. Accordingly, first fixing groove 145 is configured as an annular groove surrounding the connection portion. When deformable member 143 is not in contact with the target liquid, first sealing member 145 remains compressed between valve seat 141 and base 1422, thereby ensuring a tight connection between valve seat 141 and base 1422 and improving the seal.

[0090] Specifically, the first sealing member 145 can be made of elastic materials such as rubber, silicone, etc., which are not listed here one by one. By providing the first sealing member 145, the sealing between the valve seat 141 and the base 1422 can be improved.

[0091] In some embodiments, a limiting portion 1421 a is formed on the core shaft 1421 , and the discharge mechanism 14 further includes an elastic member 146 , which is pressed between the limiting portion 1421 a and the valve seat 141 along the axial direction of the core shaft 1421 .

[0092] Specifically, the initial state of the elastic member 146 is a compressed state, thereby being able to provide a pre-tightening force between the core shaft 1421 and the valve seat 141 .

[0093] like Figure 7 As shown, in the initial state, the deformable member 143 does not contact the target liquid. At this time, under the pre-tightening force of the elastic member 146, the base 1422 is tightly connected to the valve seat 141, and the deformable member 143 is tightly arranged between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141. Figure 8 As shown, when deformable member 143 deforms upon contact with the target liquid, base 1422 separates from valve seat 141 under the deforming force of deformable member 143. Simultaneously, base 1422 drives core shaft 1421 to move synchronously, causing the compression of elastic member 146 to change accordingly. During this synchronous movement of base 1422 and core shaft 1421, a drainage channel 144 is formed between base 1422 and valve seat 141, allowing the target liquid to be discharged through drainage channel 144.

[0094] It should be noted that the elastic member 146 can be set as a spring, or other elastic elements, as long as it can provide pre-tightening force for the core shaft 1421 and the valve seat 141, which will not be elaborated here.

[0095] In some embodiments, the limiting portion 1421 a is formed at a portion of the core shaft 1421 that protrudes outside the valve seat 141 , and the limiting portion 1421 a is protruding along the outer circumference of the core shaft 1421 .

[0096] Through the above structure, under the deformation action of the deformable part 143, the core shaft 1421 can follow the base 1422 and separate from the valve seat 141 synchronously, so that the deformation of the deformable part 143 is completely converted into the drainage channel 144 between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141, so that the target liquid can be discharged from the drainage channel 144 more quickly.

[0097] In some embodiments, the deformable member 143 is a liquid-absorbing and expanding member, that is, the deformable member 143 can absorb the target liquid and expand in volume after absorbing the target liquid.

[0098] Specifically, in the initial state, the deformable member 143 does not absorb the target liquid and its volume does not change. At this time, under the preload force of the elastic member 146, the base 1422 is tightly connected to the valve seat 141, and the deformable member 143 is tightly disposed between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141.

[0099] After the deformable member 143 absorbs the target liquid, it expands and increases in volume. It also pushes the base 1422 axially along the core shaft 1421, moving it away from the valve seat 141. This separates the base 1422 from the valve seat 141 and forms a drainage channel 144 for the target liquid to drain. It is understood that the deformable member 143 can also be configured as a water-absorbing and dissolving member, meaning that the deformable member 143 can absorb the target liquid and decrease in volume after absorbing the target liquid.

[0100] Specifically, when the deformable member 143 is not in contact with the target liquid, the deformable member 143 can block the drainage channel 144 between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141. After the deformable member 143 absorbs the target liquid, the volume of the deformable member 143 decreases, thereby exposing the drainage channel 144 between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141, and the target liquid can be discharged from the drainage channel 144.

[0101] Please see Figure 6In some embodiments, the valve seat 141 defines a bayonet 1412 that communicates between the exterior and the mounting cavity 1411. The bayonet 1412 serves as an inlet for the target liquid in the structure to be discharged to enter the mounting cavity 1411 of the liquid discharge mechanism 14. This allows the target liquid to contact the deformable member 143 in the mounting cavity 1411, causing the deformable member 143 to deform, thereby forming a drainage channel 144 between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141 for the target liquid to be discharged.

[0102] See also Figure 7 、 Figure 8 and Figure 9 Based on the same concept as the above-mentioned drainage mechanism, one embodiment of the present application provides a battery case 10, comprising a case body 13 and a drainage mechanism 14. The case body 13 has a receiving cavity 131 therein, and a connecting hole 132 is defined in the case body 13, connecting the outside with the receiving cavity 131. The drainage mechanism 14 is assembled in the connecting hole 132, and the drainage mechanism 14 is the above-mentioned drainage mechanism 14.

[0103] The box body 13 is constructed as the main part of the battery box 10 and can be enclosed by a top cover 133, side panels 134, and bottom panel 135, which together form a receiving chamber 131. When the drainage mechanism 14 is assembled in the connection hole 132, the drainage mechanism 14 can discharge the target liquid in the receiving chamber 131, thereby keeping the receiving chamber 131 dry, preventing the target liquid from soaking the electrical connection parts and causing safety hazards such as abnormal insulation, high-voltage short circuit, or fire and explosion of the battery 100, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery 100. In addition, the drainage mechanism 14 can respond immediately when it comes into contact with the target liquid, without the need for manual operation, effectively improving the drainage efficiency.

[0104] In some other embodiments, the discharge mechanism 14 can also open and discharge the target liquid without contacting the target liquid. For example, a detection component (not shown in the figure) and a control component (not shown in the figure) are provided in the discharge mechanism 14. The detection component can detect the target liquid in the accommodating chamber 131. The detection content can be the actual humidity value in the accommodating chamber 131, or the actual liquid level height of the target liquid in the accommodating chamber 131. When the actual humidity value is greater than the preset humidity value or when the actual liquid level height is higher than the preset liquid level height, the detection component can transmit a detection signal to the control component, which then drives the valve core 142 to separate from the valve seat 141 through the control component, so that a discharge channel 144 is formed between the valve core 142 and the valve seat 141, and the target liquid can be discharged from the accommodating chamber 131 through the discharge channel 144.

[0105] Please see again Figure 4 and Figure 5In some embodiments, the drain mechanism 14 includes a second sealing member 147 , which is sealed between the box body 13 and the valve seat 141 .

[0106] Since the box body 13 and the valve seat 141 are rigid structures, a gap will be generated when the two are connected. Therefore, in order to ensure the sealing of the accommodating cavity 131 in the initial state, a second sealing member 147 is provided between the box body 13 and the valve seat 141 to ensure a tight connection between the box body 13 and the valve seat 141.

[0107] Furthermore, the second sealing member 147 is configured as an elastic sealing ring, which is disposed around the valve seat 141 and maintained in a compressed state, so that the valve seat 141 and the box body 13 are tightly connected.

[0108] Specifically, the second sealing member 147 can be made of elastic materials such as rubber and silicone, which are not listed here. By providing the second sealing member 147, the rigid connection between the box body 13 and the valve seat 141 can be converted into an elastic connection, making the connection between the box body 13 and the valve seat 141 tighter and improving the sealing performance of the accommodating chamber 131.

[0109] In some embodiments, the valve seat 141 is mounted within the connection hole 132 via a bayonet 1412, with one end of the bayonet 1412 abutting against the wall of the accommodating chamber 131. On one hand, the bayonet 1412 secures the discharge mechanism 14 to the bottom plate 135 of the housing 13 and seals it within the connection hole 132. On the other hand, the bayonet 1412 also serves as an inlet for the target liquid within the accommodating chamber 131 to enter the installation cavity 1411, facilitating the target liquid's entry into the installation cavity 1411 and contact with the deformable member 143.

[0110] Please refer again to 7 and Figure 8 Furthermore, the box body 13 includes a top cover 133 , side panels 134 and a bottom panel 135 . The top cover 133 , side panels 134 and bottom panel 135 together form a receiving cavity 131 , and the connecting hole 132 is opened on the bottom panel 135 .

[0111] The bottom plate 135 is the end plate located at the bottom when the battery case 10 is assembled on an electrical device. The top cover 133 is the end plate located above the bottom plate 135 when the battery case 10 is assembled on an electrical device. Therefore, the side plates 134 are the end plates located between the top cover 133 and the bottom plate 135.

[0112] When the battery box 10 is assembled to an electrical device, the bottom plate 135 is at the lowest point in the assembled state. Therefore, opening the connection hole 132 on the bottom plate 135 can be more conducive to discharging the target liquid in the accommodating cavity 131.

[0113] In some embodiments, there are at least two connection holes 132, each of which is evenly arranged along the outer edge of the bottom plate 135. Thus, different connection holes 132 can collect and discharge the target liquid at different positions on the bottom plate 135, making the target liquid discharge more thorough.

[0114] Furthermore, when the battery case 10 is a rectangular structure, the bottom plate 135 is a rectangular plate. In this case, four connection holes 132 can be provided and opened at four corners of the bottom plate 135 respectively, so as to collect and discharge the target liquid at different positions in the accommodating cavity 131.

[0115] In some embodiments, a drainage portion (not shown) is provided on the bottom plate 135 to drain the target liquid to the connection hole 132. The drainage portion can drain the target liquid at various locations on the bottom plate 135 and gather it around the connection hole 132, so that the target liquid can be discharged from the connection hole 132 out of the accommodating cavity 131.

[0116] Furthermore, the drainage portion is constructed as a drainage groove, with the bottom wall height gradually increasing from one end connected to the connection hole 132 toward the other end. Specifically, the drainage groove is configured to have a certain slope, with the connection hole 132 located at the lowest point of the slope. This allows the target liquid to flow downward along the drainage groove, and the slope increases the flow velocity of the target liquid, thereby increasing the discharge speed of the target liquid.

[0117] Based on the same concept as the above-mentioned battery case 10 , the present application provides a battery 100 , including the above-mentioned battery case 10 and a battery cell 20 accommodated in an accommodating cavity 131 .

[0118] Based on the same concept as the above-mentioned battery 100, the present application provides an electrical device, including the above-mentioned battery 100, and the battery 100 is used to provide electrical energy.

[0119] When some of the drainage mechanisms 14 in this application are applied to the battery case 10, the drainage mechanism 14 can first be sealed in each connection hole 132 to form a sealed state in the accommodating cavity 131. When the battery 100 is in normal use, the accommodating cavity 131 always remains sealed. When the seal at other locations on the battery case 10 fails, the target liquid from the outside will enter the accommodating cavity 131. At this time, the target liquid accumulates on the bottom plate 135. It can be guided by the drainage portion on the bottom plate 135 to flow to each connection hole 132.

[0120] When the target liquid flows to the connecting hole 132, the target liquid can flow into the installation cavity 1411 through the bayonet 1412 on the valve seat 141 and contact the deformable member 143. After absorbing the target liquid, the deformable member 143 is deformed and its volume increases. As a result, the base 1422 is pushed to move in a direction away from the valve seat 141. At this time, the base 1422 and the valve seat 141 are away from each other. When the distance between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141 gradually increases, the compression of the first sealing member 145 between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141 gradually decreases. When the compression of the first sealing member 145 is reduced to zero, the sealing interface between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141 fails, and the target liquid can flow out of the accommodating cavity 131 from the drainage channel 144 between the base 1422 and the valve seat 141.

[0121] The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0122] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation methods of the present application. While the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that a person of ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present application, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present patent application shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A liquid discharge mechanism, characterized in that: include: The valve seat has a mounting cavity; a valve core, movably assembled on the valve seat and at least partially accommodated in the mounting cavity, the valve core comprising a core shaft and a base, the core shaft comprising a first end, the first end being an axial end of the core shaft, the first end extending into the mounting cavity and detachably connected to the base, the base and the core shaft being connected via an elastic connector; as well as a deformable member, received in the mounting cavity and abutting between the valve seat and the base; In which, the deformable part is configured to be deformed after contacting the target liquid, and the compression amount of the elastic connecting part changes under the action of the deformation force, so that the core shaft and the base are separated, causing the base to move relative to the valve seat until the two are separated to form a drainage channel.

2. The liquid discharge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid discharge mechanism includes a first sealing member, which is provided on a surface of the base facing the valve seat; the first sealing member is configured as follows: When the deformable member is not in contact with the target liquid, the first sealing member is sealingly disposed between the valve seat and the base; After the deformable member contacts the target liquid, at least a portion of the first sealing member is separated from at least one of the valve seat and the base, so that the drainage channel is formed between the valve seat and the base.

3. The liquid discharge mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A limiting portion is formed on the core shaft, and the liquid discharge mechanism further comprises an elastic member, which is pressed between the limiting portion and the valve seat along the axial direction of the core shaft.

4. The liquid discharge mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The limiting portion is formed on a portion of the core shaft protruding outside the valve seat, and the limiting portion is protruding along the outer circumference of the core shaft.

5. The liquid discharge mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The deformable part is a liquid-absorbing expansion part.

6. The liquid discharge mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A bayonet is provided on the valve seat, and the bayonet is communicated between the outside and the installation cavity.

7. A battery box, characterized in that: include: The box body has a receiving cavity therein, and a connecting hole is provided on the box body to communicate between the outside and the receiving cavity; and a liquid discharge mechanism, assembled in the connecting hole; Wherein, the drainage mechanism is the drainage mechanism described in any one of claims 1-6.

8. The battery box according to claim 7, characterized in that: The liquid discharge mechanism includes a second sealing member, which is sealed between the box body and the valve seat.

9. The battery box according to claim 7, characterized in that: The valve seat in the liquid discharge mechanism is provided with a bayonet which communicates between the outside and the installation cavity. The valve seat is installed in the connecting hole through the bayonet, and one end of the bayonet abuts against the cavity wall of the accommodating cavity.

10. The battery box according to claim 7, characterized in that: The box body includes a top cover, side panels and a bottom panel. The top cover, the side panels and the bottom panel together enclose the accommodating cavity. The connecting hole is provided on the bottom panel.

11. The battery case according to claim 10, characterized in that: The connection holes include at least two, and the connection holes are evenly arranged along the outer edge of the bottom plate.

12. The battery case according to claim 10, characterized in that: A drainage portion is provided on the bottom plate, and the drainage portion is used to drain the target liquid to the connecting hole.

13. The battery case according to claim 12, characterized in that: The drainage portion is constructed as a drainage groove, and the height of the bottom wall of the drainage groove gradually increases from one end connected to the connecting hole to the other end.

14. A battery, characterized in that: It comprises a battery box as described in any one of claims 7 to 13 and a battery cell accommodated in the accommodating cavity.

15. An electrical device, characterized in that: The battery of claim 14 is provided for providing electrical energy.

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