Explosion-proof valve and battery pack integrated into the top cover

Abstract

To provide an explosion-proof valve with reduced production cost, and a battery pack provided with the explosion-proof valve.SOLUTION: A battery pack includes: an upper lid main body having an accommodation chamber; and an explosion-proof valve main body integrally formed with the upper lid main body, having a pressure release pipe having one end communicating with the inside of the accommodation chamber and the other end communicating with the outside of the accommodation chamber, and a vent membrane attached to the one end of the pressure release pipe. By integrating the explosion-proof valve main body and the upper lid main body, the number of components can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. As a result, the time and cost required for manufacturing and mounting can be reduced, and a production efficiency can be improved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims priority based on a Chinese patent application with application number 2024202216141 filed with the Chinese Patent Office on January 29, 2024, and all of its contents are incorporated herein by reference. This application relates to the technical field of explosion-proof valves, and particularly to explosion-proof valves integrated with an upper cover and battery packs.

Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, in order to prevent the occurrence of thermal runaway accidents and avoid the imbalance of internal and external pressures of the battery pack, and considering that a large amount of toxic gas is instantaneously generated when a lithium battery catches fire, it is necessary to install an explosion-proof valve to release pressure and discharge gas.

[0003] In the prior art, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery exceeds the limit, the explosion-proof valve automatically opens, thereby releasing the internal pressure and ensuring the safety of the battery. Related technology battery packs usually use a single explosion-proof valve.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] First, the component of a single explosion-proof valve has a high cost and requires additional materials and manufacturing processes, so the cost of the entire battery pack increases.

[0005] Second, since a single explosion-proof valve needs to be attached to the upper cover of the battery pack, the attachment process and complexity of the battery pack increase. In the attachment process, in order to prevent gas leakage inside the battery pack, it is necessary to ensure the sealing performance between the explosion-proof valve and the upper cover. This requires additional processes and inspection means, resulting in an increase in production cost and time.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention provides an explosion-proof valve integrated with a top cover, comprising a top cover body having a housing chamber, a pressure-relieving pipe integrally molded with the top cover body, one end of which communicates with the inside of the housing chamber and the other end of which communicates with the outside of the housing chamber, and a ventilation membrane attached to one end of the pressure-relieving pipe.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention provides a battery pack comprising a battery module having one or more cells and a pressure relief valve attached to the cells and communicating with one end of a pressure relief pipe, a battery case, and an explosion-proof valve integrated into the top cover.

[0008] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: 1. Reduction in the number of parts: By integrating the explosion-proof valve body and the upper cover body, the number of parts can be reduced, thereby lowering costs. This reduces the time and cost required for manufacturing and installation, and improves production efficiency. 2. Improved Reliability: By integrating the explosion-proof valve body and the upper cover body, the airtightness between them is enhanced, reducing the risk of leaks and improving reliability. This improves product quality and safety, and reduces costs associated with failures and maintenance. 3. Improved Production Efficiency: By integrating the explosion-proof valve body and the upper cover body, installation time can be reduced, improving production efficiency. This reduces the production cycle and costs, and enhances the competitiveness of the product. 4. Improved User Experience: By integrating the explosion-proof valve body and the top cover body, the volume and weight of the product can be reduced, improving the user experience. This makes the product more portable and easier to use, and can increase user satisfaction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the outer surface of the upper lid body of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing the inside of the upper lid body of the present embodiment. [Figure 3]This is an enlarged diagram showing the explosion-proof valve body of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a diagram showing a disassembled view of a portion of the explosion-proof valve body of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view showing the body of the explosion-proof valve according to the present embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] In the description of this application, the directions or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inside," and "outside" are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings and are merely for the convenience and simplification of the description of this application. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element has a specific direction or must be configured and operated in a specific direction, and therefore should be interpreted as not limiting this application.

[0011] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those generally understood by those skilled in the art. In this specification, terms used in the description of this application are used solely for the purpose of describing specific examples and are not intended to limit this application.

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention, referring to Figures 1 to 5, discloses an explosion-proof valve integrated into a top cover. The explosion-proof valve comprises a top cover body 1 and an explosion-proof valve body 2 that are integrally molded. By providing them as a single unit, the number of parts is reduced, costs are reduced, installation man-hours are reduced, production efficiency is improved, installation airtightness issues between the two are avoided, the risk of leakage is reduced, and reliability is improved.

[0013] In a specific embodiment, referring to Figures 1 and 2, the upper lid body 1 has a housing chamber 11, the housing chamber 11 is open on one side to form an opening 12, and the side opposite the opening 12 is the end face 13 of the upper lid body 1. The explosion-proof valve body 2 has a pressure relief pipe 21 and a ventilation membrane 22. One end of the pressure relief pipe 21 communicates with the inside of the housing chamber 11, and the other end communicates with the outside of the housing chamber 11. The ventilation membrane 22 is attached to one end of the pressure relief pipe 21. Specifically, referring to Figure 4, the pressure relief pipe 21 has a first pipe 211 and a second pipe 212. The first pipe 211 is connected perpendicularly to the end face 13. The second pipe 212 is connected perpendicularly to the first pipe 211. By connecting the second pipe 212 perpendicularly to the first pipe 211, the airflow experiences greater resistance as it passes through the explosion-proof valve, reducing the airflow pressure, preventing backflow of the airflow, and preventing explosion waves from propagating backward from the explosion-proof valve. Furthermore, the 90° bend reduces the noise generated when the airflow passes through the explosion-proof valve, thus contributing to improved reliability of the explosion-proof valve and personnel safety.

[0014] Referring to Figures 1 and 4, the end face 13 of the top cover body 1 is adjacent to several side faces 14. The second pipe 212 is drilled into the adjacent side face 14. At least a portion of the second pipe 212 is fitted into the side face 14, and a pressure release port 23 is formed at the end of the second pipe 212 that extends from the housing chamber 11 through the side face 14. When the internal pressure of the battery pack exceeds a set value, the ventilation membrane 22 ruptures, allowing the internal pressure of the battery pack to be released through the pressure release port 23. In some embodiments, the second pipe 212 is connected perpendicular to the side face 14. If the angle between the side face 14 and the end face 13 is greater than 90°, a better fit effect can be achieved by adjusting the angle between the first pipe 211 and the second pipe 212 according to the angle between the side face 14 and the end face 13. Of course, in other embodiments, the angle between the side surface 14 and the end surface 13 does not have to correspond to the angle between the first pipe 211 and the second pipe 212, and can be changed depending on the actual situation, but this embodiment is not particularly limited.

[0015] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 4, a reinforcing pipe 3 is provided inside the second pipe 212 to increase the pressure release strength of the second pipe 212 and prevent explosion when pressure is released. At least a portion of the reinforcing pipe 3 enters the first pipe 211, and an exhaust valve 31 is provided at one end of the reinforcing pipe 3 closer to the first pipe 211. By providing the reinforcing pipe 3, the thickness of the second pipe 212 is increased, improving its own strength and enhancing the safety and reliability of the explosion-proof valve. In one embodiment, the reinforcing pipe 3 and the second pipe 212 are integrally molded, making it possible to omit the installation process. In other embodiments, the specific installation method between the reinforcing pipe 3 and the second pipe 212 is not limited.

[0016] To improve the diversion and pressure reduction of the pressure-releasing gas, in some embodiments, referring to Figure 4, the exhaust valve 31 has at least one support beam 311. The support beam 311 has a ventilation hole 312 formed between it and the reinforcing pipe 3. The support beam 311 of the exhaust valve 31 is used to enhance the stability and reliability of the explosion-proof valve and is usually composed of two intersecting metal support beams 311 or three intersecting metal support beams 311. In one embodiment, three support beams 311 are provided, with one end of the three support beams 311 connected to the axis of the reinforcing pipe 3 and the other end of the three support beams 311 connected to the inner wall of the reinforcing pipe 3. The connection method of both ends of the support beams 311 is, but is not limited to, integral connection, welding, or bonding. A tapered block 32 is provided on the side of the connection portion of the three support beams 311 that faces the housing chamber 11. A diversion groove is provided on the surface of the tapered block 32, along the axial direction of the tapered block 32. The tapered block 32 is used to control the flow rate and direction of the airflow. As the airflow passes through the tapered structure, the airflow velocity increases, thereby reducing the airflow pressure. The airflow is then dispersed by the diversion grooves and discharged through the multiple vents 312, resulting in a reduction in airflow pressure. In other embodiments, the number of support beams 311 is not particularly limited, and the shape of the connected support beams 311 may be a cross shape, a triangle, or a grid shape, but is not limited to these.

[0017] Referring to Figure 4, a stepped mounting base 4 is formed between one end of the reinforcing pipe 3 facing the housing chamber 11 and the first pipe 211, and the ventilation membrane 22 is provided on the stepped mounting base 4, thereby contributing to the attachment of the ventilation membrane 22. In some embodiments, the ventilation membrane 22 and the stepped mounting base 4 are connected by heat fusion or ultrasonic bonding.

[0018] In some embodiments, referring to FIGS. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, an attachment lip plate 15 extending from the accommodation chamber 11 is provided at the edge of the opening 12 of the accommodation chamber 11. In order for the attachment lip plate 15 to protect the pressure release port 23, the end of the second pipe 212 that exits from the side surface 14 is configured not to protrude beyond the end of the attachment lip plate 15, thereby protecting the pressure release port 23 of the second pipe 212 and reducing the risk of contact with the pressure release port 23. This prevents the pressure release port from being easily impacted and the explosion-proof valve from being damaged.

[0019] In some embodiments, in order to increase the response speed and efficiency of the explosion-proof valve, the inner wall radius of the second pipe 212 gradually increases in the direction away from the accommodation chamber 11. In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 5, by changing the inner wall radius only for the portion near the pressure release port 23 of the second pipe 212, the flow area of the pressure release port 23 can be increased, the pressure release speed can be increased, and the response speed and efficiency of the explosion-proof valve can be enhanced.

[0020] The present application further relates to a battery pack including a battery module, a battery case, and an explosion-proof valve integrated with an upper lid. The battery module includes one or more cells and a pressure release valve attached to the cells. The pressure release valve communicates with one end of the pressure release pipe 21. By integrally providing the explosion-proof valve and the upper lid body 1, the production efficiency of the battery pack is increased, the production cost is reduced, and the installation man-hours are reduced.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0021] 1 Upper lid body, 11 Accommodation chamber, 12 Opening, 13 End face, 14 Side face, 15 Attachment lip plate, 2 Explosion-proof valve body, 21, Pressure release pipe, 211, First pipe, 212, Second pipe, 22, Ventilation film, 23, Pressure release port, 3 Reinforcement pipe, 31 Exhaust valve, 311 Support beam, 312 Ventilation hole, 32 Tapered block, 4 Step-shaped mounting base

Claims

1. An explosion-proof valve integrated into the top cover, A lid body (1) having a storage chamber (11), The explosion-proof valve body (2) is integrally molded with the upper lid body (1), and has a pressure relief pipe (21) with one end communicating with the inside of the containment chamber (11) and the other end communicating with the outside of the containment chamber (11), and a ventilation membrane (22) attached to one end of the pressure relief pipe (21), Equipped with, The storage chamber (11) is open on one side to form an opening (12), and the side of the storage chamber (11) facing the opening (12) is the end face (13) of the upper lid body (1). The pressure relief pipe (21) has a first pipe (211) connected perpendicularly to the end face (13) and a second pipe (212) connected perpendicularly to the first pipe (211). A reinforcing pipe (3) is provided inside the second pipe (212), at least a portion of the reinforcing pipe (3) enters the first pipe (211), and an exhaust valve (31) is provided at one end of the reinforcing pipe (3) closer to the first pipe (211). Explosion-proof valve integrated into the top cover.

2. The end face (13) of the upper lid body (1) is adjacent to a plurality of side faces (14), the second pipe (212) is drilled into the adjacent side face (14), and at least a portion of the second pipe (212) is fitted into the side face (14), and a pressure release port (23) is formed at the end of the second pipe (212) that extends from the housing chamber (11) through the side face (14). An explosion-proof valve integrated with the top cover as described in claim 1.

3. The exhaust valve (31) has at least one support beam (311) in which a ventilation hole (312) is formed between it and the reinforcing pipe (3). An explosion-proof valve integrated with the top cover as described in claim 1.

4. A tapered block (32) is provided on the side of the support beam (311) facing the storage chamber (11). The explosion-proof valve integrated with the top cover as described in claim 3.

5. A stepped mounting base (4) is formed between one end of the reinforcing pipe (3) facing the housing chamber (11) and the first pipe (211), and the ventilation membrane (22) is provided on the stepped mounting base (4). An explosion-proof valve integrated with the top cover as described in claim 1.

6. A mounting lip plate (15) extending from the housing chamber (11) is provided at the edge of the opening (12) of the housing chamber (11), and the second pipe (212) does not protrude from the end of the mounting lip plate (15) but exits from the end of the side surface (14). The explosion-proof valve integrated with the top cover as described in claim 2.

7. The inner wall radius of the second pipe (212) gradually increases in the direction away from the containment chamber (11). An explosion-proof valve integrated with the top cover as described in claim 1.

8. A battery module having one or more cells and a pressure relief valve attached to the cells and communicating with one end of a pressure relief pipe (21); a battery case; and an explosion-proof valve integrated into the top cover according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Battery pack.

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