Emergency degassing device

Abstract

The invention relates to an emergency degassing device (10) for compensating the internal pressure in a receiving housing for electrochemical or electrotechnical equipment, in particular for a battery housing, which comprises a housing (20) with at least one gas passage opening (27.2), which is blocked by a gas-tight, in particular air-tight, membrane (30) supported in or against a membrane support (27) provided in the housing (20) and spaced apart from the gas-tight membrane (30). The emergency degassing device (10) has a cutting member (27.3) arranged therebetween, the cutting member (27.3) being shaped and positioned so that when the airtight membrane (30) is deformed in a predetermined manner, it comes into contact with the cutting member (27.3) and breaks the airtight membrane (30) at least in one place, thereby creating a fluid connection between the inner surface (21.2) of the emergency degassing device (10) and the outer surface (21.1) of the emergency degassing device (10) through the gas passage opening (27.2). In order to improve the moisture protection means of the storage housing, the invention envisages that at least one storage section (29) is provided in or on the housing (20), and corresponding to the storage section (29) at least one air passage section (29.2) is arranged between the inner surface (21.2) and the outer surface (21.1), and the air passage section or sections (29.2) are covered by at least one ventilation member (74) in the form of a gas-permeable membrane.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an emergency degassing device for compensating the internal pressure in a housing for a battery housing, particularly in an electrochemical or electrical device, comprising a housing having at least one gas passage opening, the gas passage opening being blocked by a hermetic, particularly airtight membrane supported within or in contact with a membrane support provided in the housing, a cutting member being correspondingly arranged on the hermetic membrane, particularly the cutting member being arranged at a distance from the membrane, the cutting member being configured and positioned such that when the hermetic membrane is deformed as predetermined and hits the cutting member, the hermetic membrane is broken at at least one location, thereby creating a fluid connection between the inside and the outside of the emergency degassing device through the gas passage opening.

Background Art

[0002] Such emergency degassing devices are known from German Patent Application Publication No. 102011080325. This known emergency degassing device has a support member having a flange portion with holes for mounting to a battery housing. In this case, the support member covers the edge of the opening in the battery housing. The support member is coupled to a membrane that seals the gas passage opening of the support member. In this case, the membrane is stretched between the support member and a fastening member and is sealed and held in place in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, a housing-like protective member having a cut member in the central region is used. This cut member is positioned opposite the membrane. The protective member is used to prevent interference with the membrane from the outside of the emergency degassing device. The protective member has a plurality of gas passage openings. The membrane is gas permeable but substantially waterproof. In this case, this waterproofing function is such that ambient water can only flow into the inner region from the outside, or not at all or only very slightly. During normal operation, gas compensation can be performed between the surroundings and the battery housing via the membrane. This is possible because the membrane is gas permeable. For example, if a sudden burst pressure is generated due to a fault within the battery housing, the membrane will bend outward. A gap is provided between the cutting member and the outside of the membrane that defines the acceptable deformation of the membrane in the event of such damage. If the membrane bends beyond the acceptable deformation, it will strike the cutting member, which is formed as a tip. The cutting member damages the membrane, causing it to rupture. In this case, the gas can rapidly leak out of the battery housing through the gas passage opening to the surroundings. This prevents the battery housing from exploding.

[0003] As mentioned above, the membrane "breathes" during "normal" operating conditions. In this case, air exchange between the surroundings and the internal space of the battery housing occurs across the gas-permeable membrane. The air entering the battery housing at this time carries moisture. This moisture condenses within the battery housing, which is undesirable.

[0004] Furthermore, emergency degassing devices known from the prior art are formed using a laborious process. Due to dimensional errors that inevitably arise from manufacturing between individual device components, it is not possible to guarantee that cut pieces will always be positioned at the same precise spacing relative to the membrane surface in each different emergency degassing device in a single batch. This results in variable and unreproducible membrane rupture characteristics. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an emergency degassing device of the type described at the beginning that can at least significantly reduce or avoid the problem of invading air moisture. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This problem is solved by providing at least one housing portion within or adjacent to the housing, and corresponding to the housing portion, at least one air passage portion being positioned between the inner and outer surfaces, and one or more air passage portions being blocked by at least one ventilation member in the form of a gas-permeable membrane.

[0007] Therefore, in this invention, the burst function is separated from the breathing function. In order to rapidly reduce the internal pressure within the housing of an electrochemical or electrical device in the event of damage, the airtight membrane needs to provide a sufficiently large free cross-sectional area. This sufficiently large free cross-sectional area is released in the event of damage, thereby releasing pressure. During normal operating conditions, air moisture cannot flow into the housing through the airtight membrane. However, at least one ventilation member is used to allow pressure compensation between the internal space of the housing and the surroundings under these normal operating conditions. This ventilation member is structurally simple and is formed of a gas-permeable membrane. In this case, the gas-permeable membrane allows gas to pass through but not water. Correspondingly, this gas-permeable membrane certainly prevents water from flowing in from the outside, but allows for the breathing function. The burst function requires a large free cross-sectional area of ​​the airtight membrane, whereas the breathing function, i.e., the gas-permeable membrane (ventilation member), requires only a small cross-sectional area. This allows for precise design of ventilation members to match the respiratory function, while simultaneously allowing for the individual and precise design of airtight membranes responsible for the bursting function. In this case, preferably, less moisture from the air enters the housing through ventilation members with a small cross-section. Thus, the bursting function and the respiratory function can be designed independently of each other.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cutting member is supported by a holder of a housing, and the housing forms a component in which the holder for the cutting member and the fixed portion of the membrane support are integrally coupled to each other, in which case it is assumed that the airtight membrane is sealed and coupled directly or indirectly to the fixed portion. Through the integral coupling of the holder and the fixed portion, it is ensured that the cutting member is always positioned with the correct dimensions to correspond to the fixed portion and, consequently, to the airtight membrane. This makes it possible to obtain reproducible bursting characteristics. Furthermore, the emergency degassing device according to the present invention is particularly simple and stable in its configuration. This ensures that the emergency degassing device according to the present invention operates reliably and further reduces component and assembly costs.

[0009] In preferred configurations of the present invention, the holder may be assumed to have at least one gas passage opening, in which case preferably a web portion of the holder is formed between at least two gas passage openings, and a cutting member is assumed to be positioned in the web portion. These configurations have been found to allow for effective gas release in the event of damage. Furthermore, the holder is covered with an airtight membrane even in areas that do not have gas passage openings, thereby providing mechanical protection against interference, splash water, and persistent overflow, for example.

[0010] Preferably, a spacer member that holds the fixed portion at a distance from the holder may be integrally molded with the holder. In this way, the gap between the airtight membrane and the cutting member can be manufactured very appropriately.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, which has a small structural height, the emergency degassing device can be conceived based on the fact that the membrane support portion has a support portion recessed in the inner wall of the housing, and in this case, the fixed portion is arranged at a distance from the wall in the direction toward the outer surface of the support portion.

[0012] A particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a gas guide is disposed in a region of the outer surface of a housing, the gas guide forming a spatial connection between one or more gas passage openings and / or at least one passage and the surrounding area that continues from the outer surface, the gas guide having at least one wall member, the wall member covering at least one gas passage opening and / or at least one passage in the region of the outer surface, gas can be discharged through the gas guide during overload and / or normal operation. In this case, the gas guide may be designed such that the wall member of the gas guide provides mechanical interference protection means that prevents direct interference with an airtight membrane and / or at least one ventilation member.

[0013] In this case, the gas guide may further have at least one gas guide passage, one or more gas guide passages defined laterally by at least one wall member and by multiple couplings, and at least one wall member may be integrally coupled to the housing via one or more of the couplings. This structure further improves the mechanical interference protection means by the later couplings. The integral coupling significantly reduces component and assembly costs. In particular, in this case, no other components are required to form the gas guide passages.

[0014] One possible configuration of the present invention is such that the gas guide has at least one gas outlet opening that forms a gas guide connection between the gas guide and the periphery of the outer surface region, and the gas outlet opening may be spaced apart from one or more gas passage openings and / or at least one flow section. The spacing does not only provide interference protection; rather, it also achieves that splash water flowing in from the outer surface cannot easily reach and damage the airtight membrane and / or ventilation members. Preferably, for this purpose, the distance between the gas outlet opening and one or more gas passage openings and / or at least one flow section is at least twice the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the gas passage opening and / or at least one flow section.

[0015] Interference protection and splash protection are particularly effective when it is assumed that there is no direct line of sight between the gas outlet opening and the gas passage opening and / or at least one passage. This prevents linear articles, such as wires or drivers, inserted through the gas outlet opening from striking the membrane and / or the ventilation member.

[0016] If the cross-sectional area of ​​one gas outlet opening or the sum of the cross-sectional areas of multiple gas outlet openings is assumed to be equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​one gas passage opening or multiple gas passage openings, then undesirable acceleration of the gas flow in the event of damage is prevented.

[0017] One possible embodiment of the present invention is a housing having a integrally molded cover, the cover comprising mounting members, which may be formed in particular as holes, preferably mounting receiving portions, the mounting members being formed and positioned to bond an emergency degassing device to the housing wall of a housing, particularly a battery housing.

[0018] Preferably, the housing is made of plastic, and more preferably, it is integrally formed as a plastic injection molded member.

[0019] In this type of structure, the mounting receiving portion may be assumed to receive a sleeve made of metal or plastic, which is shape-coupled and / or material-coupled to the cover, forming a through-opening for a threaded member, and which has a support surface on its outer surface for supporting the threaded member. This ensures a permanent connection between the emergency degassing device and the housing, particularly the battery housing.

[0020] If the housing has a cover that forms a seal housing on its inner surface, and an annular seal having multiple sealing portions is held within or in contact with the seal housing, and the seal having multiple sealing portions forms an annular sealing surface for sealed contact with the outer surface of the housing, particularly the battery housing, then a stable connection of the housing to the housing is possible.

[0021] The seal may be formed as a separate seal inserted into the seal housing. Alternatively, the seal may be integrally molded into the housing using a two-component injection molding method. Furthermore, the seal may be machined and molded into the seal housing.

[0022] In one aspect of the present invention, if an airtight membrane has an annular coupling portion, at which the airtight membrane is airtightly and directly annularly coupled to a fixed portion of a membrane support, and / or if a ventilation member has an annular coupling portion, at which the ventilation member is preferably airtightly and directly annularly coupled to a fixed portion of a housing, the component costs for the emergency degassing device are significantly reduced.

[0023] However, alternatively, an airtight membrane is coupled to the membrane support of the support, the support has a fixed surface that extends in the circumferential direction in a ring shape, and the annular coupling portion of the airtight membrane is airtightly coupled to the fixed surface in a ring shape. The support has a coupling surface to the connecting member, and with this coupling surface, the support is coupled to the housing, preferably by a material coupling method, particularly by adhesion or welding, and / or a ventilation member is coupled to the support member of the holder. The support member has a fixed surface that extends in the circumferential direction in a ring shape, and the annular coupling portion of the ventilation member is preferably airtightly coupled to the fixed surface in a ring shape. The holder has a coupling surface to the connecting member, and the holder is coupled to the housing with this coupling surface, preferably by a material coupling method, particularly by adhesion or welding, or it may be assumed that the film is injected from the back.

[0024] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, it may be assumed that the sum of the free cross-sectional areas of a plurality of ventilation members or the free cross-sectional area of one ventilation member is smaller than the free cross-sectional area of the airtight membrane. In this case, preferably, it is assumed that the sum of the free cross-sectional areas of a plurality of ventilation members or the free cross-sectional area of one ventilation member is smaller than the free cross-sectional area of the airtight membrane.

[0025] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on the illustrated embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] It is an exploded perspective view of the emergency degassing device. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view of the emergency degassing device shown in FIG. 1 as seen from above. [Figure 3] It is a view showing the constituent units of the emergency degassing device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 4] It is a longitudinal sectional view of the emergency degassing device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 5] It is a view of the emergency degassing device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as seen from below. [Figure 6]Figures 1 and 5 show cross-sectional views of the emergency degassing device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0027] Figure 1 shows an emergency degassing device 10 having a housing 20. Preferably, the housing 20 is integrally formed and manufactured as a plastic part by injection molding.

[0028] The housing 20 has a cover 21, which may be formed in the shape of a plate. The cover 21 has an outer surface 21.1 and an inner surface 21.2 (see Figure 3). In the assembled state, the outer surface 21.1 faces the periphery. The inner surface 21.2 faces the housing, and the emergency degassing device 10 can be attached to the housing, for example, the battery housing.

[0029] The cover 21 may have a plurality of mounting receiving portions 22, which may be formed as holes. The holes 22 penetrate the cover 21 between the outer surface 21.1 and the inner surface 21.2.

[0030] As can be seen from Figure 1, the housing 20 is substantially rectangular or square in shape and is defined by a longitudinal side 23.1 and a transverse side 23.2, the longitudinal side 23.1 and the transverse side 23.2, each paired with the other and parallel to each other. Of course, it is also possible to provide the cover 21 with any other contour, such as a circular, elliptical, or polygonal contour.

[0031] Figure 3 shows that the housing 20 has a integrally molded membrane support portion 27. A holder 27.1 is positioned in the region of the membrane support portion 27. The holder 27.1 is formed as a surface member and has at least one gas passage opening 27.2. However, it is also possible that the holder 27.1 has only one gas passage opening 27.2, or multiple gas passage openings 27.2. The holder 27.1 supports the cutting member 27.3. In this embodiment, the cutting member 27.3 is positioned in the web between two gas passage openings 27.2.

[0032] Other arrangements of the cutting member 27.3 are also possible. The cutting member 27.3 is formed as a point-shaped tip. It is also possible to use a cutting member 27.3 with a blade that extends linearly or in another shape.

[0033] A spacer member 27.4 is integrally connected to the holder 27.1. The spacer member 27.4 may be formed in particular as an annular wall.

[0034] The membrane support portion 27 transitions from the spacer member 27.4 to the fixing portion 27.5. The fixing portion 27.5 may be formed as an annular mounting surface, as in this embodiment. Particularly advantageous is when the fixing portion 27.5 is formed in an annular shape without interruption. The membrane support portion 27 further has a support portion 27.6. The support portion 27.6 is recessed in the wall forming the inner surface 21.2 of the housing 20.

[0035] As can be further seen from Figure 3, it is assumed that a discharge section 26 is machined and molded into the cover 21 in the area behind the fixed section 27.5. The discharge section 26 may be formed, for example, by holes, as shown in Figure 3. These holes open into the outer surface area, as shown in Figure 3, and extend, for example, from the spacer member 27.4 to the vertical side surface 23.1 or the horizontal side surface 23.2.

[0036] Figures 2 and 3 show that the gas passage opening 27.2 is covered on the outside by a gas guide section 24. For this purpose, a wall member 24.1 is used that is positioned at an axial distance from the gas passage opening 27.2 and is integrally connected to the housing 20, particularly the cover 21, via a lateral connecting section 24.2 on the outside. The gas guide section 24 forms a gas guide passage with the wall member 24.1, the connecting section 24.2, and the bottom wall 24.3. This gas guide passage has gas outlet openings 25 at both ends on its longitudinal side, and gas guide connections with the surroundings can be made via the gas outlet openings 25. Of course, it is also possible that only one gas outlet opening 25 is provided, or that more gas outlet openings are provided in other locations.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, the housing 20 provides a gas guide connection that extends from one or more gas outlet openings 25 through a gas guide passage and a gas passage opening 27.2 to the inner surface 21.2 of the emergency degassing device 10.

[0038] To block this gas guide connection, an airtight, particularly airtight, membrane 30 is provided. The airtight membrane 30 is preferably formed as a surface member, and more preferably formed of a plastic film.

[0039] The membrane 30 is substantially watertight, and in particular, the membrane 30 is designed to be sufficiently thick to be tear-resistant in order to avoid undesirable failure of the membrane 30 due to external water pressure supply.

[0040] The membrane 30 may be a film, and the support 40 is integrally injection-molded with this film within a mold tool ("back-facing injection molding"). In this case, the membrane 30 and the support 40 are preferably made of a thermoplastic resin. This allows for the formation of an airtight bond between the support 40 and the membrane 30 in a single work step.

[0041] Alternatively, the film 30 can be inserted into the film support portion 27, and then plastic can be injected from the back within a mold tool to form the support 40. This film back injection method reduces component costs and assembly costs.

[0042] The film 30 may contain polyethylene terephthalate or polycarbonate, and preferably may consist entirely of such materials.

[0043] The film 30 is preferably formed in the form of a disc, but it can also take other forms. However, it is known that the disc form has advantageous properties when deformed.

[0044] The membrane 30 has an inner surface 33 that faces the inner surface 21.2 of the housing 20 in the assembled state. The membrane 30 further has an outer surface 32. The outer surface 32 is oriented toward the outer surface 21.1 in the assembled state. Furthermore, the membrane 30 has an annular connecting portion 31 preferably formed on the edge side.

[0045] The membrane 30 may be directly bonded to the fixed portion 27.5 of the membrane support portion 27, or indirectly bonded via the support 40.

[0046] When the film 30 is directly attached, the film 30 is annularly and airtightly bonded to the fixing portion 27.5 by the bonding portion 31. This may be done, for example, by a material bonding type of bond. Here, adhesive or welding, particularly ultrasonic welding or film back-facing injection, can be considered.

[0047] When attached indirectly, as shown in Figure 1, the membrane 30 is placed on the fixed surface 44 of the support 40 by its connecting portion 31. The membrane 30 can be bonded to the fixed surface 44 in an annular and airtight manner by its connecting portion 31. Here again, the bonding can be done by material bonding, particularly by adhesive or welding, especially by ultrasonic welding.

[0048] Figure 1 further shows that the support 40 has a connecting member 41. This connecting member 41 has a bonding surface 42. Furthermore, the connecting member 41 supports a membrane support 43 that forms a fixed surface 44. In this case, the membrane support 43 holds the fixed surface 44 at a distance from the bonding surface 42.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3, the support 40 can be pre-inserted into the membrane support 27 together with the membrane 30 fixed to the support 40. The insertion operation is restricted by the bonding surface 42 that corresponds to the fixed portion 27.5. Here, an annular, airtight joint is formed between the contacting surfaces of the support 40 and the housing 20. Additionally or alternatively, an annular, airtight joint may be formed in another location, for example, in the area of ​​the annular support 27.6. This joint can be formed by bonding, welding, in particular ultrasonic welding or film back-injection.

[0050] Furthermore, Figure 4 shows that the housing 20 is provided with a seal housing portion 28 that extends in the circumferential direction. This seal housing portion 28 surrounds the membrane support portion 27 on the inner surface 21.2 of the cover 21. The seal 60 can be inserted, machined, or integrally molded into the seal housing portion 28.

[0051] The seal 60 has sealing portions 61 and 62. These sealing portions 61 and 62 form an annular sealing surface 63, as shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, the seal 60 may have a plurality of additional portions 64, which, in the assembled state, can be used to annularly seal the holes (mounting receiving portions 22) on the inner surface 21.2 of the cover. To allow mounting screws to pass through, the additional portions 64 may have openings 65 that align with the mounting receiving portions 22.

[0052] Figure 1 further shows that a sleeve 50 made of metal or plastic is inserted into the mounting receiving portion 22. Preferably, the plastic material of the housing 20 is injected or press-fitted afterwards to surround the sleeve 50. The sleeve 50 forms a support surface in the area of ​​its outer surface 21.1 for parts of the mounting member, such as screw heads. On the inside, the sleeve 50 forms an upright surface used to press against the outer surface of the housing to which the emergency degassing device 10 is to be mounted.

[0053] Figure 1 shows that the emergency degassing device 10 has at least one ventilation member 74 coupled to the housing 20.

[0054] The ventilation member 74 may be formed in the form of a gas-permeable, particularly air-permeable membrane, especially a film. The film may have a plurality of passages or pores through which air can flow from the outer surface 21.1 through the ventilation member 74 to the inner surface 21.2.

[0055] The ventilation member 74 can be attached to the housing 20 in the same way as the airtight membrane 30 can be attached to the housing 20. For this, please refer to the above description of the airtight membrane 30. In particular, a retainer 70 may be used, and the retainer 70 may be formed in the same way as or with the same configuration as the support 40.

[0056] The holder 70 has a connecting member 71. The connecting member 71 forms an annular connecting surface 72. A support member 73 is integrally molded to the connecting member 71. The support member 73 has an annular connecting surface for the ventilation member 74.

[0057] The ventilation member 74 has an annular connecting portion 74.3, which is preferably formed annularly on the edge side. The ventilation member 74 faces toward the outer surface 21.1 of the housing 20 and forms the outer surface 74.1. The ventilation member 74 faces toward the inner surface 21.2 of the housing 20 and forms the inner surface 74.2.

[0058] The ventilation member 74 is placed on the connecting surface of the support member 73 at its connecting portion 74.3, and can be preferably airtightly coupled in an annular manner to this connecting surface. Please refer to the mounting method described above.

[0059] Within the framework of the present invention, one or more ventilation members 74 may be provided and connected to the housing 20. In this embodiment, two ventilation members 74 are used.

[0060] As shown in Figure 3, the housing 20 has a dwelling section 29 for the ventilation member 74. The dwelling section 29 may have a bottom section 29.1 with an air passage section 29.2. Alternatively, the bottom section 29.1 can be omitted. However, the bottom section 29.1 is advantageous because, in this case, the cross-section of the air passage section 29.2 can be made particularly small, which is advantageous for splash protection.

[0061] The housing section 29 has a support section 29.3 with an annular fixing section 29.4. The fixing section 29.4 preferably transitions into an annular wall section 29.5.

[0062] Figure 6 shows that in order to attach the ventilation member 74 to the housing 20, the ventilation member 74 is first coupled to the retainer 70. Then, the retainer 70 together with the ventilation member 74 is inserted into the housing 29. In this case, the insertion operation may be restricted, for example, by a coupling surface 72 that abuts annularly against the fixed portion 29.4. The support member 73 protrudes over the fixed portion 29.4 in the direction of the outer surface 21.1 above the fixed portion 29.4.

[0063] The holder 70 can be attached in the same way as the support 40. Please refer to the above explanation for details.

[0064] As can be further seen from Figure 6, the arrangement of one or more housing sections 29 may be such that the air passage section 29.2 opens into a passage surrounded by the gas guide section 24.

[0065] Figure 6 further shows that a free space may be formed in the region between the outer surface 74.1 of the ventilation member 74 and the bottom 29.1 of the housing 20. In this case, it is preferably assumed that the discharge section 26 opens into this free space. The end of the discharge section 26 opposite to the free space is open to the surrounding area.

[0066] To ensure both the functionality of the membrane 30 and the functionality of the ventilation member 74, the system is designed so that, in some cases, the water that has entered can be discharged again through the discharge section 26.

[0067] The emergency degassing device 10 according to the present invention is used to airtightly close an opening provided in the wall of a housing. The housing may be a battery housing in which a storage battery is housed. To close the opening, the emergency degassing device 10 is placed on the wall of the housing so as to cover the opening and is coupled to the housing using, for example, a screw member guided through a mounting receiving portion 22. Of course, it is also possible to form another type of coupling between the emergency degassing device 10 and the housing. For example, the emergency degassing device 10 may be equipped with an integrally molded locking hook that locks into the wall of the housing. Furthermore, the use of fastening means is also conceivable.

[0068] The functional configuration of the emergency degassing device 10 is as follows: During normal operation, the membrane 30 hermetically seals the path between the gas guide section 24 and the internal space of the housing. Normal pressure fluctuations between the surroundings and the internal space of the housing can be compensated for through the ventilation member 74. For this purpose, gas can flow from the internal space of the housing through the ventilation member 74 into the gas guide section 24 and then into the surroundings. If the pressure inside the housing drops due to operation, gas can also flow in the reverse direction.

[0069] If high pressure rapidly accumulates within the internal space of the housing during damage, the membrane 30 will bend from the position shown in Figure 4 toward the outer surface 21.1 until it strikes the cutting member 27.3 due to an unacceptable pressure rise. The cutting member 27.3 will damage the membrane 30, and therefore the stretched membrane 30 will subsequently rupture. In this way, a large area of ​​the gas guide connection can be released. The gas pressure from the internal space of the housing is released into the gas guide section 24 through the gas passage opening 27.2. The gas can then leak out into the surroundings.

[0070] In one alternative configuration of the emergency degassing device 10, the holder 27.1 may be provided with a plurality of gas passage openings 27.2 that form gas guide connections to a gas guide section 24 located at the front. In this case, the gas guide section 24 may also have, for example, a plurality of gas guide passages. At least one gas passage opening 27.2 is provided for each of these gas guide passages, thereby forming a gas guide connection to the gas guide passage.

[0071] Each gas guide passage of the gas guide section 24 is defined by a wall member that is integrally connected to the housing 20 on the outside at the connecting portion. On the other hand, the connecting portion 24.2 holds the wall member 24.1 at a distance from the bottom wall 24.3.

Claims

1. An emergency degasser (10) for compensating the internal pressure of an electrochemical or electrical device, comprising a housing (20) having at least one gas passage opening (27.2), the gas passage opening (27.2) being sealed by an airtight membrane (30) supported within or in contact with a membrane support (27) provided in the housing (20), the airtight membrane (30) having a corresponding cutting member (27.3), the cutting member (27.3) being, In an emergency degassing device (10), the cutting member (27.3) is positioned at a distance from the airtight membrane (30), and is formed and positioned such that when the airtight membrane (30) deforms in a predetermined manner, it breaks the airtight membrane (30) at at least one location, thereby creating a fluid connection between the inner surface (21.2) and the outer surface (21.1) of the emergency degassing device (10) through the gas passage opening (27.2), The housing (20) is provided with at least one housing portion (29) located within or adjacent to the housing (20), and corresponding to the housing portion (29), at least one air passage portion (29.2) is arranged between the inner surface (21.2) and the outer surface (21.1), and one or more of the air passage portions (29.2) are covered by at least one ventilation member (74) in the form of a gas-permeable membrane. Emergency degassing device (10).

2. The emergency degassing device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting member (27.3) is supported by a holder (27.1) of the housing (20), the housing (20) forms a component in which the holder (27.1) for the cutting member (27.3) and the fixing portion (27.5) of the membrane support portion (27) are integrally coupled to each other, and the airtight membrane (30) is sealed and coupled to the fixing portion (27.5) directly or indirectly.

3. The emergency degassing device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the holder (27.1) forms at least one gas passage opening (27.2), a web portion of the holder (27.1) is formed between the two gas passage openings (27.2), and the cutting member (27.3) is disposed in the web portion.

4. An emergency degassing device (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a spacer member (27.4) is integrally molded with the holder (27.1) to hold the fixed portion (27.5) at a distance from the holder (27.1).

5. The membrane support portion (27) has a support portion (27.6) recessed in the wall of the housing (20) facing the inner surface (21.2), and the fixing portion (27.5) is arranged in the support portion (27.6) at a distance from the wall in the direction toward the outer surface (21.1), as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, for the emergency degassing device (10).

6. An emergency degassing device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a gas guide portion (24) is disposed in the region of the outer surface (21.1) of the housing (20), the gas guide portion (24) forms a spatial connection between one or more gas passage openings (27.2) and / or the at least one air passage portion (29.2) and the surrounding area continuing from the outer surface (21.1), and the gas guide portion (24) has at least one wall member (24.1), the wall member (24.1) covers the at least one gas passage opening (27.2) and / or the at least one air passage portion (29.2) in the region of the outer surface (21.1).

7. The emergency degassing device (10) according to claim 6, wherein the gas guide section (24) has at least one gas guide passage, one or more of the gas guide passages are defined by at least one wall member (24.1) and laterally by a plurality of coupling portions (24.2), and the at least one wall member (24.1) is integrally coupled to the housing (20) via one or more of the coupling portions (24.2).

8. The emergency degassing device (10) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the gas guide portion (24) has at least one gas outlet opening (25) that forms a gas guide connection portion between the gas guide portion (24) and the periphery of the area of ​​the outer surface (21.1), the gas outlet opening (25) is spaced apart from one or more gas passage openings (27.2) and / or the at least one air passage portion (29.2), and the distance between the gas outlet opening (25) and one or more gas passage openings and / or the at least one air passage portion (29.2) is at least twice the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the gas passage opening (27.2) and / or the at least one air passage portion (29.2).

9. The emergency degassing device (10) according to claim 8, wherein the gas outlet opening (25) and the gas passage opening (27.2) and / or the at least one air passage section (29.2) are not directly visible from each other.

10. The emergency degassing device (10) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​one gas outlet opening (25) or the sum of the cross-sectional areas of a plurality of gas outlet openings (25) is equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​one gas passage opening (27.2) or a plurality of gas passage openings (27.2).

11. The emergency degassing device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the housing (20) has an integrally molded cover (21), and the cover (21) is provided with a mounting receiving portion (22).

12. The mounting receiving portion (22) receives a sleeve (50), the sleeve (50) is coupled to the cover (21) by shape coupling and / or material coupling and / or friction coupling, forming a through opening for a screw member, and the sleeve (50) has a support surface in the region of its outer surface (21.1) for supporting the screw member, as described in claim 11.

13. The emergency degassing device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the housing (20) has a cover (21) having a seal housing portion (28) formed on its inner surface (21.2), and an annular seal (60) having a plurality of seal portions (61, 62) is held in or in contact with the seal housing portion (28), and the seal (60) having the plurality of seal portions (61, 62) forms an annular seal surface (63).

14. The airtight membrane (30) has an annular connecting portion (31), and the airtight membrane (30) is airtightly and directly annularly connected to the fixing portion (27.5) of the membrane support portion (27) by the connecting portion (31). and / or, the ventilation member (74) has an annular coupling portion (74.3) by which the ventilation member (74) is airtightly and directly annularly coupled to the fixing portion (29.4) of the housing portion (29), the emergency degassing device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 5.

15. The airtight membrane (30) is bonded to the membrane support (43) of the support (40), the support (40) has a fixed surface (44) that extends circumferentially in an annular shape, the annular bonding portion (31) of the airtight membrane (30) is airtightly bonded in an annular shape to the fixed surface (44), the support (40) has a bonding surface (42) to the connecting member (41), and the support (40) is bonded to the housing (20) by the bonding surface (42). and / or, the ventilating member (74) is coupled to a support member (73) of a holder (70), the support member (73) having a fixed surface extending circumferentially in an annular shape, the annular coupling portion (74.3) of the ventilating member (74) being airtightly coupled in an annular manner to the fixed surface, the holder (70) having a coupling surface (72) on a coupling member (71), and the holder (70) being coupled to the housing (20) by the coupling surface (72), the emergency degassing device (10) according to claim 14.

16. The emergency degassing device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the sum of the areas of the multiple ventilation members (74) or the area of ​​one of the ventilation members (74) is smaller than the area of ​​the airtight membrane (30).

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