Pressure release mechanism

Abstract

The utility model relates to a pressure release mechanism. Provided is a technique whereby it is possible to smoothly release pressure when releasing pressure inside a battery case, while suppressing wetting of an on-off valve by water. The pressure relief mechanism may be provided with: an on-off valve that opens and closes the gas discharge port; and a covering member that is configured from a waterproof filter or a waterproof film that covers the on-off valve, and that is capable of discharging the gas inside the battery case, which is discharged from the gas discharge port, to the outside when the on-off valve is opened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a pressure release mechanism. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a battery pack pressure relief valve that is installed in an opening formed in a battery pack case. The battery pack pressure relief valve of Patent Document 1 comprises a case having a discharge hole communicating with the opening of the battery pack case and a valve mechanism capable of opening and closing the discharge hole; and a cover that, when installed in the case, forms a passage between the case and the cover for discharging gas discharged from the discharge hole. The valve mechanism comprises a valve member capable of sealing the discharge hole; and a biasing portion that biases the valve member toward a closed position that seals the discharge hole.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-194719 Utility Model Content

[0006] Problems to be solved by utility models

[0007] In the pressure release valve of Patent Document 1, the gas exhausted from the exhaust hole is exhausted to the outside through the passage between the case and the cover. Therefore, the ventilation resistance during pressure release is large, and the pressure inside the battery pack case cannot be released smoothly.

[0008] This specification provides a technology that can smoothly release the pressure inside a battery case while suppressing wetting of an on-off valve by water.

[0009] Solutions for solving problems

[0010] A first technical solution of the present technology relates to a pressure release mechanism, which is attached to a gas outlet of a battery case and is used to release pressure within the battery case. The pressure release mechanism may also include: an on-off valve that opens and closes the gas outlet; and a covering member composed of a waterproof filter or waterproof film that covers the on-off valve, wherein the covering member is capable of discharging gas from the battery case, which is discharged through the gas outlet, to the outside when the on-off valve is open.

[0011] According to this structure, the waterproof covering member can prevent the on-off valve from being wetted by water. In addition, the covering member is composed of a filter or a film. When the on-off valve is opened, the gas inside the battery case discharged from the gas outlet can be discharged to the outside of the covering member. Therefore, the ventilation resistance during pressure release can be reduced, and the pressure inside the battery case can be released smoothly.

[0012] In the second technical solution, according to the first technical solution, the covering member may be ruptured by the opening of the on-off valve, thereby allowing the gas exhausted from the gas exhaust port to be exhausted to the outside of the covering member. With this configuration, the pressure inside the battery case can be smoothly released using a simple structure.

[0013] In a third aspect, according to the first aspect, the covering member formed of the waterproof filter or the waterproof film may be air-permeable. This configuration allows for smooth release of pressure inside the battery case using a simple structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 This is a diagram schematically showing a battery pack equipped with the pressure release mechanism of the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a diagram schematically showing a battery pack equipped with the pressure release mechanism of the first embodiment (a diagram showing a state where the on-off valve is open).

[0016] Figure 3 This is a diagram schematically showing a battery pack equipped with a pressure release mechanism according to a second embodiment.

[0017] Figure 4 This is a diagram schematically showing a battery pack equipped with the pressure release mechanism of the second embodiment (a diagram showing a state where the on-off valve is open).

[0018] Figure 5 This is a diagram schematically showing a battery pack including a pressure release mechanism according to a modified example.

[0019] Figure 6 This is a diagram schematically showing a battery pack including a pressure release mechanism according to a modified example.

[0020] Figure 7 This is a diagram schematically showing a battery pack including a pressure release mechanism according to a modified example.

[0021] Figure 8 This is a diagram schematically showing a battery pack including a pressure release mechanism according to a modified example.

[0022] Description of Reference Numerals

[0023] 2. Pressure release mechanism; 10. Battery case; 12. Upper surface member; 14. Gas exhaust port; 20. Covering member; 22. Peripheral end portion; 30. Open / close valve; 32. Valve core; 34. Hinge member; 50. Base member; 52. Outer member; 54. Insert member; 56. Second gas exhaust port; 58. Sealing member; 61. First check valve; 62. Second check valve; 90. Battery; 100. Battery pack DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] (First embodiment)

[0025] The battery pack 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 As shown, the battery pack 100 of the first embodiment includes a battery case 10 and a pressure release mechanism 2 attached to the battery case 10 .

[0026] The battery case 10 is made of, for example, metal or resin. The battery case 10 houses a battery 90 such as a lithium-ion battery or a nickel-metal hydride battery. There is no particular limitation on the type of battery 90. The battery case 10 includes an upper surface member 12 and a gas outlet 14 provided on the upper surface member 12. In this battery pack 100, the gas inside the battery case 10 can be discharged to the outside of the battery case 10 via the gas outlet 14. In addition, there is no particular limitation on the position where the gas outlet 14 is formed. For example, the gas outlet 14 can also be provided on the side member 19 of the battery case 10.

[0027] The pressure release mechanism 2 will be described. The pressure release mechanism 2 includes an on-off valve 30 that opens and closes the gas outlet 14 of the battery case 10, and a covering member 20 that covers the on-off valve 30. The on-off valve 30 includes a valve core 32 that opens and closes the gas outlet 14, and a hinge member 34 connected to the valve core 32. When the on-off valve 30 is closed, the valve core 32 seals the gas outlet 14. When closed, the valve core 32 abuts against the upper surface member 12 of the battery case 10. The upper surface member 12 functions as a valve seat for the on-off valve 30.

[0028] The valve element 32 includes a main body 32a and a sealing member 32b fixed to the main body 32a. The sealing member 32b is fixed to the surface of the main body 32a facing the battery case 10. The sealing member 32b seals the gas discharge port 14 when the on-off valve 30 is closed.

[0029] The hinge member 34 of the on-off valve 30 is configured to rotate relative to the battery case 10. The hinge member 34 is connected to the main body 32a of the valve core 32 and the upper surface member 12 of the battery case 10. The hinge member 34 rotates the valve core 32 relative to the battery case 10. The on-off valve 30 is opened or closed by the rotation of the hinge member 34. The on-off valve 30 opens when the pressure inside the battery case 10 reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure. When the pressure inside the battery case 10 is lower than the threshold pressure, the on-off valve 30 does not open.

[0030] Next, the covering member 20 will be described. The covering member 20 is composed of, for example, a waterproof filter or a waterproof film. As a waterproof filter, for example, there is a fluororesin porous film (for example, TEMISH (registered trademark) manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation). The covering member 20 is configured in a manner that covers the entire opening and closing valve 30. The outer peripheral end portion 22 of the covering member 20 is fixed to the upper surface member 12 of the battery case 10. The outer peripheral end portion 22 of the covering member 20 is bonded to the upper surface member 12 of the battery case 10 using an adhesive, for example. The covering member 20 prevents the opening and closing valve 30 from being wetted by water. In addition, the covering member 20 prevents dust from adhering to the opening and closing valve 30.

[0031] Next, the operation of the pressure release mechanism 2 will be described. In the pressure release mechanism 2 described above, the on-off valve 30 opens when the pressure inside the battery case 10 becomes equal to or higher than the threshold pressure (see Figure 2 When the on-off valve 30 is opened, the gas inside the battery case 10 is discharged to the outside of the battery case 10 through the gas discharge port 14 .

[0032] Furthermore, in the pressure release mechanism 2, when the on-off valve 30 opens, the covering member 20 covering the on-off valve 30 breaks. The opening of the on-off valve 30 presses the covering member 20, causing it to break. When the covering member 20 breaks, the gas inside the battery case 10, which had been discharged from the gas outlet 14, is discharged to the outside of the covering member 20 through the broken portion of the covering member 20. This releases the pressure inside the battery case 10.

[0033] (Effect)

[0034] The first embodiment has been described above. As described above, the pressure release mechanism 2 of the first embodiment includes: an on-off valve 30 that opens and closes the gas outlet 14 of the battery case 10; and a covering member 20 composed of a waterproof filter or waterproof film that covers the on-off valve 30. When the on-off valve 30 is opened, the covering member 20 allows gas from the interior of the battery case 10, which is discharged from the gas outlet 14, to be discharged to the outside. The opening of the on-off valve 30 causes the covering member 20 to rupture, allowing the gas discharged from the gas outlet 14 to be discharged to the outside of the covering member 20.

[0035] According to this structure, the waterproof covering member 20 can prevent the on-off valve 30 from being wetted by water. Furthermore, the covering member 20 is formed of a filter or a film, which allows the gas inside the battery case 10 to be discharged from the gas outlet 14 to the outside. This reduces the ventilation resistance during pressure release and allows the pressure inside the battery case 10 to be released smoothly. The pressure inside the battery case 10 can be released smoothly using a simple structure.

[0036] The first embodiment has been described above, but the form of the battery pack 100 is not limited to the above embodiment. In the following description, detailed descriptions of the same structures as those described above may be omitted.

[0037] (Second embodiment)

[0038] In the first embodiment described above, the covering member 20 is broken by the opening action of the on-off valve 30, but in the second embodiment, the covering member 20 may not be broken. Figure 3 As shown, in the second embodiment, the covering member 20 composed of a waterproof filter or a waterproof film has air permeability.

[0039] In the second embodiment, Figure 4 As shown, when the on-off valve 30 is opened, the gas inside the battery case 10 is discharged from the gas outlet 14 to the outside of the battery case 10. In the second embodiment, even when the on-off valve 30 is opened, the cover member 20 does not rupture. In the second embodiment, the gas inside the battery case 10 discharged from the gas outlet 14 is discharged to the outside of the cover member 20 through the gas-permeable cover member 20. As a result, the pressure inside the battery case 10 is released.

[0040] (Effect)

[0041] As described above, in the second embodiment, the covering member 20 formed of the waterproof filter or the waterproof film has air permeability. This structure allows the pressure inside the battery case 10 to be released smoothly with a simple structure.

[0042] (Variation)

[0043] (1) In a modified example, Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the pressure release mechanism 2 may also include a base member 50. The base member 50 is attached to the upper surface member 12 of the battery case 10. The base member 50 includes an outer member 52 and an insert member 54 fixed to the outer member 52.

[0044] The outer member 52 is disposed on the upper surface member 12 of the battery case 10. The insert member 54 is inserted into the gas exhaust port 14 of the battery case 10. The insert member 54 is provided with a second gas exhaust port 56. A sealing member 58 is disposed between the insert member 54 and the upper surface member 12 of the battery case 10. The sealing member 58 seals the space between the insert member 54 and the upper surface member 12.

[0045] The covering member 20 is fixed to the base member 50. The outer peripheral end portion 22 of the covering member 20 is fixed to the outer member 52 of the base member 50. The outer peripheral end portion 22 of the covering member 20 is bonded to the outer member 52 of the base member 50 by, for example, an adhesive.

[0046] In the pressure release mechanism 2 of the modified example, when the on-off valve 30 is opened, the gas inside the battery case 10 is discharged to the outside of the battery case 10 through the second gas discharge port 56 of the base member 50 .

[0047] (2) In other variations, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the pressure release mechanism 2 may also include a first check valve 61 and a second check valve 62. The first check valve 61 and the second check valve 62 are provided on the valve core 32 (see Figure 7 In a modified example, the first check valve 61 and the second check valve 62 may be provided on the upper surface member 12 of the battery case 10 (see Figure 8 The first check valve 61 and the second check valve 62 are sometimes referred to as duckbill valves.

[0048] The first check valve 61 allows gas to flow from the inside of the battery case 10 to the outside of the battery case 10 . On the other hand, the first check valve 61 prohibits gas from flowing from the outside of the battery case 10 to the inside of the battery case 10 .

[0049] The second check valve 62 allows gas to flow from the outside of the battery case 10 to the inside of the battery case 10 . On the other hand, the second check valve 62 prohibits gas from flowing from the inside of the battery case 10 to the outside of the battery case 10 .

[0050] according to Figure 7 and Figure 8In the illustrated structure, the pressure inside the battery case 10 can be adjusted by the first check valve 61 and the second check valve 62 .

[0051] The above describes in detail the specific examples of the present invention, but these are merely examples and do not limit the claims. The technology described in the claims includes technologies obtained by various modifications and changes to the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings can exert technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of application. In addition, the technology illustrated in this specification or the drawings can achieve multiple purposes simultaneously, and achieving one of the purposes itself has technical usefulness.

Claims

1. A pressure release mechanism, mounted on a gas outlet of a battery housing, for releasing the internal pressure of the battery housing, characterized in that: The pressure relief mechanism has: an on-off valve that opens and closes the gas exhaust port; and The covering member is composed of a waterproof filter or a waterproof film covering the on-off valve, and the covering member can discharge the gas inside the battery case discharged from the gas discharge port to the outside when the on-off valve is opened.

2. The pressure release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: The covering member is broken by the opening operation of the on-off valve, so that the gas exhausted from the gas exhaust port can be exhausted to the outside of the covering member.

3. The pressure release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: The covering member formed of the waterproof filter or the waterproof film has air permeability.

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