Pressure relief valve

Abstract

To provide a pressure release valve capable of suppressing intrusion of water into a case and being miniaturized in a radial direction.SOLUTION: The pressure release valve 10 includes the valve element 14, the base member 16 disposed in the opening of the case, the seal member 24 formed in an annular shape and configured to abut on the surface of the case around the opening of the case to seal the opening, the cover member 18 having the locking portion locked to the base member 16 and configured to annularly surround the seal member 24, and the housing groove configured to house the seal member 24. The base member 16 has a cylindrical portion inserted into the opening of the case, and a flange portion that functions as a valve seat on which the valve body 14 can be seated and protrudes radially outward from the cylindrical portion. The tubular portion includes a hook portion that is hooked on a back surface of the case. The cover member 18 forms at least a part of the housing groove.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure release valve provided in a case of an electricity storage device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a pressure regulating valve that is installed in a housing and regulates the internal pressure of the housing. This pressure regulating valve includes a base portion that is detachably attached to an opening formed in the housing by snap fitting, a cover portion that contacts the housing and keeps the base portion sealed, a spring that closes the cover portion to the housing, and an O-ring that is attached to the base portion and tightly contacts the housing to seal the opening. The cover portion has an edge portion that contacts the housing and covers the O-ring located inside the edge portion.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a balanced explosion-proof valve mounted on a battery housing. The balanced explosion-proof valve has a valve body fixed to a mounting hole in the housing and a second seal ring that seals the valve body from the housing. The valve body has a recessed lower seal groove on its underside, and the lower seal groove accommodates the second seal ring. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-21897 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2024 / 66615 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured so that if the edge of the cover separates even slightly from the housing, the O-ring becomes exposed to the side. Therefore, if high-pressure water is applied from the side of the pressure regulating valve and the edge separates from the housing, the O-ring will also be deformed by the high-pressure water, and there is a risk that the water will enter.

[0006] In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2, when attempting to provide a snap-fit ​​structure for fixing a valve body to a mounting hole, in addition to a mold that slides downward to form the lower seal groove, a mold that slides radially outward to form the snap-fit ​​structure is used radially inside the lower seal groove. Because the mold that slides downward is located radially outside the mold that slides radially outward, trying to avoid the mold that slides radially outward would mean shifting the lower seal groove radially outward, which would increase the diameter of the valve body.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure release valve that can be made smaller in diameter and that prevents water from entering the inside of the case of an electricity storage device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a pressure release valve provided in a case of an electricity storage device, comprising: a valve body; a base member disposed in an opening of the case; an annular sealing member that abuts against the surface of the case around the opening to seal; a cover member that has a locking portion that locks with the base member and surrounds the sealing member; and an accommodating groove that accommodates the sealing member. The base member has a tubular portion that is inserted into the opening of the case and a flange portion that functions as a valve seat on which the valve body can be seated and that extends radially outward from the tubular portion. The tubular portion has a hook portion that hooks onto the back surface of the case. The cover member forms at least a portion of the accommodating groove. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pressure release valve that can prevent water from entering the inside of the case of an electricity storage device and can be made smaller in size in the radial direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example pressure relief valve. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an example pressure relief valve. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base member as seen from the back side. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pressure relief valve taken along line AA in FIG. 1(a). [Figure 5] 1(a) is a cross-sectional view of the pressure relief valve taken along line BB. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of the pressure relief valve shown in FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pressure release valve 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 1(a) shows the pressure release valve 10 as seen from the front side, and FIG. 1(b) shows the pressure release valve 10 as seen from the back side. The pressure release valve 10 is provided in a case of an electricity storage device. The electricity storage device is, for example, a power source for driving a vehicle. The pressure release valve 10 is normally closed and opens when the pressure in the internal space of the case reaches or exceeds a predetermined value.

[0012] The pressure relief valve 10 comprises a lid member 12, a valve body 14, a base member 16, a cover member 18, a locking member 20, a biasing member 22, and a sealing member 24. The back surface of the pressure relief valve 10 shown in Fig. 1(b) is seated around the opening of the case in accordance with its position. On the front side of the case as shown in Fig. 1(a), the lid member 12 is located on the top surface, and the cover member 18 covers the side surface of the pressure relief valve 10.

[0013] 2 is an exploded view of the pressure relief valve 10 according to the embodiment. The cover member 12 is formed in a dish shape and covers the upper surface of the pressure relief valve 10. The cover member 12 has a connecting hole 26 and a protrusion 28. The connecting hole 26 is formed to connect to the valve body 14, and multiple connecting holes 26 are formed spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The protrusion 28 is formed inside the connecting hole 26 and hooks onto the valve body 14.

[0014] The valve element 14 is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction. The axial direction is the direction along the central axis of the valve element 14 and also the direction along the central axis of the pressure release valve 10. The valve element 14 has a first valve element 14a and a second valve element 14b. The first valve element 14a and the second valve element 14b are integrally formed by two-shot molding. The first valve element 14a is formed from a harder material than the second valve element 14b, and the second valve element 14b is formed from a rubber material.

[0015] The first valve body 14a has a hook portion 30 and a cylindrical portion 32. A plurality of hook portions 30 are formed and are inserted into the connecting hole portion 26 of the cover member 12 to be caught on the protrusion portion 28. This makes it possible to prevent the cover member 12 from coming off.

[0016] The cylindrical portion 32 is located at the center of the first valve body 14a and penetrates it in the axial direction. A breather (not shown) is provided to cover the upper part of the cylindrical portion 32. The breather opens slightly at a pressure lower than the pressure at which the valve body 14 moves.

[0017] The second valve body 14b is provided on the outer periphery of the first valve body 14a and is formed in an annular shape. The second valve body 14b is formed so as to hang radially outward toward the base member 16. The seal end 34 of the second valve body 14b abuts against the base member 16 over the entire circumference, and is in a closed state.

[0018] The base member 16 will be described with reference to new drawings. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the base member 16 as seen from the back side. The base member 16 is placed in the opening of the case. The base member 16 has a cylindrical portion 36, a flange portion 38, an insertion hole portion 40, and an annular protrusion 42.

[0019] The tubular portion 36 is formed in a cylindrical shape. An insertion hole 40 is formed in the center of the tubular portion 36, and the valve body 14 can be inserted into the insertion hole 40. The insertion hole 40 is formed with a smaller diameter than the inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion 36. The tubular portion 36 has a hook 46 for fixing it to the case.

[0020] The hook portions 46 are formed in plurality on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 36 and are cantilevered pieces extending in the circumferential direction. Each hook portion 46 has a claw portion 46a at its tip. The claw portion 46a protrudes toward the flange portion 38 and hooks onto the edge of the opening of the case. The hook portions 46 are hooked onto the edge of the opening of the case by rotation of the pressure release valve 10 around its axis.

[0021] The flange portion 38 projects radially outward from the cylindrical portion 36. The surface of the flange portion 38 functions as a valve seat 48, on which the seal end portion 34 of the valve body 14 is seated. The outer periphery of the flange portion 38 is formed in a hexagonal shape. The outer periphery of the flange portion 38 is not limited to a hexagonal shape and may be a polygonal shape.

[0022] The flange portion 38 has protrusions 44 on its outer circumferential edge. A plurality of the protrusions 44 are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction and protrude radially outward. The flange portion 38 is disposed at the corner positions of a polygon.

[0023] The annular protrusion 42 is formed from the base end of the cylindrical portion 36 to the flange portion 38, and protrudes outward from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 36. The annular protrusion 42 hangs down from the inner edge of the flange portion 38.

[0024] Returning to Figure 2, the cover member 18 is connected to the base member 16 and protects the seal member 24 from the outside in the radial direction. The cover member 18 has a surrounding portion 50, an inward protruding portion 52, and a locking portion 54. The surrounding portion 50 has a polygonal outer periphery and is formed like a wall that surrounds the outer periphery of the seal member 24. Because the outer periphery of the cover member 18 is polygonal, an operator can use a tool to rotate the pressure release valve 10 around its axis and easily hook the hook portion 46 onto the opening edge of the case.

[0025] The inward protrusion 52 protrudes radially inward from the encircling portion 50 and is formed in an annular shape. The inward protrusion 52 has a circular inner surface. The locking portion 54 stands upright toward the base member 16 and locks onto the base member 16. The locking portion 54 is a flexible elastic claw that locks onto the protrusion 44 of the base member 16. The locking portion 54 is located at a corner of the polygonal cover member 18. The locking portion 54 is located radially outward from the encircling portion 50. The encircling portion 50 is recessed at the corner where the locking portion 54 is formed, allowing the protrusion 44 of the base member 16 to be inserted.

[0026] The seal member 24 is formed in an annular shape and is, for example, an O-ring. The seal member 24 seals between the case and the base member 16 fixed to the case. Using a versatile O-ring helps keep costs down.

[0027] The locking member 20 is fixed to the tip of the cylindrical portion 32 of the first valve body 14a. The locking member 20 has a plurality of small through holes formed therein, so that the tip of the cylindrical portion 32 is not blocked. The locking member 20 has a spring receiving portion 56, a pillar portion 58, and a protruding portion 60.

[0028] The protruding portion 60 protrudes radially outward from one end of the pillar portion 58 and catches on the cylindrical portion 32, thereby forming one piece with the locking member 20 and the valve body 14. The spring receiving portion 56 protrudes radially outward from the other end of the pillar portion 58 and receives the biasing member 22.

[0029] The biasing member 22 abuts against the base member 16 and the locking member 20, and biases the valve element 14 in the closing direction via the locking member 20. This keeps the valve element 14 in the closed state.

[0030] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pressure release valve 10 taken along line AA in Fig. 1(a). The pressure release valve 10 shown in Fig. 4 is attached to a case 62 of an electricity storage device. The case 62 has an opening 62a, and the pressure release valve 10 is provided so as to close the opening 62a. The opening 62a may be formed in a side surface or an upper surface of the case 62.

[0031] The cover member 12 is connected to the valve body 14 by hooking the hook portion 30 and the protrusion portion 28. The protrusion portion 60 of the locking member 20 is hooked onto the engagement portion 32a of the cylindrical portion 32, and the valve body 14 and the locking member 20 are integrated.

[0032] The biasing member 22 biases the valve element 14 via the locking member 20 so that it presses against the surface of the base member 16. This causes the seal end 34 of the valve element 14 to seat on the valve seat 48 of the base member 16, closing the valve. A breather 66 is placed in the center of the front side of the valve element 14, closing one end of the cylindrical portion 32. Because there is a small gap between the breather 66 and the cover member 12, the breather 66 can release a small amount of pressure in the internal space of the case 62. When the valve element 14 receives pressure from the case 62 that is greater than a predetermined value, it opens against the biasing member 22.

[0033] The locking portion 54 is a resilient claw extending away from the surface of the case 62 and engages with the protrusion 44 of the base member 16. The direction away from the surface of the case 62 refers to the orientation when the cover member 18 is attached to the case 62. The locking portion 54 extends axially from the back side of the flange portion 38 to the front side and engages with the front side of the flange portion 38. The protrusion 44 is sandwiched between the locking portion 54 and the surrounding portion 50. This connects the cover member 18 to the base member 16. The flange portion 38 has a through-hole 55 that penetrates axially. The through-hole 55 forms part of the water flow path 68. This prevents water from accumulating inside the pressure release valve 10. The through-hole 55 is formed along the locking portion 54, making the locking portion 54 more flexible and also functions as a void for forming the claw of the locking portion 54.

[0034] The tubular portion 36 is inserted into the opening 62a of the case 62. The hook portion 46 hooks onto the back surface of the case 62. The annular protrusion 42 abuts against the surface of the case 62. As a result, the annular protrusion 42 and the hook portion 46 sandwich the periphery of the opening 62a of the case 62, and the base member 16 is attached to the case 62. The cover member 18 is connected to the base member 16, and therefore is fixed to the case 62 together with the cover member 18.

[0035] The sealing member 24 abuts against the surface of the case 62 and the rear surface of the flange portion 38, thereby sealing between the surface of the case 62 and the base member 16. This prevents water from entering between the case 62 and the base member 16 when the base member 16 is attached to the case 62.

[0036] The cover member 18 is disposed radially outward of the seal member 24 and surrounds the seal member 24. The accommodation groove 64 is defined by the base member 16 and the cover member 18 and accommodates the seal member 24 therein.

[0037] The accommodation groove 64 is defined by the annular protrusion 42, the rear surface of the flange portion 38, and the inward protrusion 52. The annular protrusion 42 and the inward protrusion 52 are radially opposed to each other and limit the radial movement of the seal member 24.

[0038] Because the cover member 18 is separate from the base member 16, the design freedom of the base member 16 and the cover member 18 is increased. The constraints on the mold for forming the base member 16 and the cover member 18, i.e., the constraints on axial and radial sliding when the mold is parted, are reduced, allowing the hook portion 46 and the accommodating groove 64 to be closer together. This allows the pressure release valve 10 to be made more compact in the radial direction. Forming the hook portion 46 of the base member 16 requires radial sliding of the mold. Forming the accommodating groove 64 independently requires axial sliding of the mold, and a radial distance is required to avoid interference with the radial sliding used to form the hook portion 46. Because the accommodating groove 64 is not formed independently of the base member 16, axial sliding of the mold to form the accommodating groove 64 is not required.

[0039] When the pressure release valve 10 is attached to the case 62, the cover member 18 is sandwiched between the surface of the case 62 and the flange portion 38. This prevents the cover member 18 from coming off even if the cover member 18 is damaged by high-pressure water during a car wash.

[0040] The locking portion 54 locks onto the protruding portion 44 radially outward of the seal member 24, and locks onto the protruding portion 44 radially outward of the seal end 34 of the valve body 14. As a result, the gap between the base member 16 and the cover member 18 is positioned radially outward of the seal member 24 and the valve body 14.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pressure release valve 10 shown in FIG. 1(a) taken along line BB. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the pressure release valve 10 shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 6, a gap 70a is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 38 and the inner peripheral surface of the surrounding portion 50, and a gap 70b is formed between the back surface of the flange portion 38 and the surface of the inward protrusion 52. In this manner, gaps 70a and 70b that form a water flow path 70 are provided between the cover member 18 and the flange portion 38. The flow path 70 is located radially outward of the seal member 24. The gap 70b may be formed by the flange portion 38 being pressed by the seal member 24 in the attached state.

[0042] The electricity storage device is placed under the floor of the vehicle compartment and may be exposed to high-pressure water 72 when the vehicle is washed. When high-pressure water 72 is sprayed from the side of the pressure release valve 10, the water enters the pressure release valve 10. At this time, the flow path 70 discharges the water 72, thereby preventing the water 72 from accumulating inside the pressure release valve 10. The through-hole portion 55 shown in FIG. 4 also constitutes part of the flow path 70.

[0043] The cover member 18 surrounds the seal member 24, thereby preventing the high-pressure water 72 from directly hitting the seal member 24. The cover member 18 can prevent the high-pressure water 72 from hitting the seal member 24, deforming the seal member 24, and entering the inside of the seal member 24.

[0044] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications such as design changes may be made to the embodiments based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and such modified embodiments may also be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0045] For example, the accommodating groove 64 may be defined only by the cover member 18. That is, the cover member 18 may form at least a part of the accommodating groove 64. In this case, the seal member 24 abuts against the surfaces of the cover member 18 and the case 62. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10 pressure release valve, 12 lid member, 14 valve body, 16 base member, 18 cover member, 20 lock member, 22 biasing member, 24 seal member, 26 connecting hole portion, 28 protrusion portion, 30 hook portion, 32 cylindrical portion, 32a engagement portion, 34 seal end portion, 36 tubular portion, 38 flange portion, 40 insertion hole portion, 42 annular protrusion portion, 44 protrusion portion, 46 hook portion, 48 valve seat, 50 surrounding portion, 52 inward protrusion portion, 54 locking portion, 55 through hole portion, 56 spring receiving portion, 58 column portion, 60 protrusion portion, 62 case, 62a opening, 64 accommodation groove, 66 breather, 70 Flow path, 70a,70b gap.

Claims

1. A pressure release valve provided in a case of an electricity storage device, A valve body, a base member disposed in the opening of the case; a sealing member formed in an annular shape and abutting against the surface of the case around the opening of the case to form a seal; a cover member having a locking portion that locks onto the base member and surrounds the seal member; a receiving groove for receiving the sealing member, The base member is a cylindrical portion that is inserted into the opening of the case; a flange portion that functions as a valve seat on which the valve body can be seated and that protrudes radially outward from the cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion has a hook portion that hooks onto the back surface of the case, A pressure relief valve, wherein the cover member defines at least a portion of a receiving groove.

2. 2. The pressure release valve according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is sandwiched between the surface of the case and the flange portion when the pressure release valve is attached to the case.

3. 3. The pressure release valve according to claim 1, wherein a gap is provided between the cover member and the flange portion to allow water to flow therethrough.

4. the locking portion is a resilient claw extending in a direction away from the surface of the case, 4. The pressure release valve according to claim 3, wherein the cover member has a through-hole portion that penetrates along the locking portion and constitutes a part of the flow path.

5. 3. The pressure release valve according to claim 1, wherein the flange portion has a surrounding portion whose outer periphery is formed in a polygonal shape and which surrounds the sealing member.

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