Battery container assembly

Abstract

A battery container assembly (1) for storage and recycling of used batteries, wherein the battery container comprises a battery container (3) comprising an electrically non- conductive inner face (10), a label dispensing arrangement (5) and a pressure relief valve (7)

Description

BATTERY CONTAINER ASSEMBLYTechnical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to recycling of used batteries. In particular, it relates to a battery container assembly configured for temporary storage of used batteries.Background Art

[0002] Used batteries, such as household batteries for remote controls, kitchen scales, and fire detectors should be carefully disposed of and recycled. They contain valuable materials that should be reused, such as for new batteries. Moreover, they frequently lead to fires in waste management facilities. Such fires typically occur if a battery is short-circuited or physically deformed, for instance from an impact or squeezing. This applies particularly to lithium batteries.

[0003] When disposing batteries, it is advisable to tape the electrodes of the battery to avoid such short-circuiting. However, people tend not to do this, as it is cumbersome, time-consuming, and because people are not aware of the problem.

[0004] Fire resistant containers that are built for temporary storage of batteries are known.

[0005] Publication US20170237054A1 discloses a heat containment system with a double wall steel insulated box, a vent system with a flame arrestor and a filter.

[0006] While such containers are often designed with an aim to withstand a fire or explosion of a battery inside them, the hot gas or flames that burst out of them have a high risk of incinerating nearby objects.

[0007] The present invention aims to reduce the risk of such fires or explosions taking place inside the container, and further to reduce the consequences if such a fire or explosion takes place.Summary of invention

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery container assembly for storage and recycling of used batteries. The battery container comprises a battery container comprising an electrically non-conductive inner face, a label dispensing arrangement, and a pressure relief valve.

[0009] Preferably, the battery container is made of an incombustible or fire-resisting material.

[0010] The battery container assembly can in some embodiments further comprise a battery receptacle arranged inside the container. The battery receptacle can be made of a fire-resistant material and can have the non-conductive inner face.

[0011] With the term label is herein meant an adhesive-coated sheet, such as a portion of a tape, a tag, a sticker, or the like, configured to be attached to one or both electrodes of a battery. The purpose is to avoid short-circuiting of the batteries.

[0012] In some embodiments, the label dispensing arrangement comprises a label roll holder, a label film exit slot and a label exit slot.

[0013] The label film exit slot can advantageously be arranged with a distance from the label exit slot. This facilitates picking a label off from the label film while the remaining label film exits the battery container assembly at another position.

[0014] The label dispensing arrangement can comprise a label guiding arrangement configured to provide a turn of a label film to release a label from said label film.

[0015] The said turn, i.e. the change of direction of the label film, is made sufficiently abrupt such that a label will detach itself from the label film due to the stiffness of the label.

[0016] In some embodiments, the label guiding arrangement comprises an intermediate channel between the label film exit slot and the label exit slot, a first guide channel ending at the label film exit slot, and a second guide channel ending at the label exit slot.

[0017] Advantageously, the first and second guide channels and the intermediate channel can be symmetrical about a vertical plane. The user may then install the label roll in either of its two orientations.

[0018] In some embodiments, the label roll holder comprises a vent channel in fluid connection with the pressure relief valve and the battery container.

[0019] This enables positioning of the pressure relief valve at an elevated level. If a battery catches fire or explodes, the outflow of warm gas will then occur at the top of the battery container assembly, where the risk of igniting nearby objects is the lowest.

[0020] The vent channel may advantageously comprise a lattice arrangement located at the mouth (i.e. the inlet) of the vent channel that faces the battery container.

[0021] The lattice arrangement may prevent batteries from entering and possibly get stuck inside the vent channel.

[0022] In some embodiments, the battery container assembly can further comprise a top lid that comprises the pressure relief valve. Moreover, the pressure relief valve can comprise a vent aperture, wherein the top lid comprises a top plate that comprises the vent aperture. The pressure relief valve can further comprise a valve cap covering the vent aperture, wherein the valve cap is movable between an open position and a closed position.

[0023] The pressure relief valve will contribute to reduce leak of gases from inside the battery container assembly to the outside. Stored lithium batteries produce a smelly gas when stored, and thus it is beneficial to maintain the produced gas inside the battery container assembly. Furthermore, upon an incident where the pressure relief valve permits gas to exit, it will move back into its closed state once pressure has been relieved. In this manner, it will prevent access to oxygen to a burning battery inside the battery container.

[0024] In such embodiments, the valve cap may comprise a cap skirt with a lower rim that is configured to abut against the top lid when in the closed state.

[0025] Furthermore, in such embodiments the pressure relief valve may further comprise cap guiding elements that are attached to the top lid, that are distributed with outflow gaps between them, and that are distributed radially within said cap skirt.

[0026] The pressure relief valve may comprise a spring that bias the pressure relief valve towards its closed state.

[0027] In some embodiments, the top lid comprises an aperture rim that extends down from the top plate and encircles an upper part of the vent channel. This contributes to guiding an erupting gas flow to the intended outflow path.

[0028] The battery container assembly may further comprise a guide arrangement configured to angularly align the top lid with a main body of the label dispensing arrangement. In some embodiments, the battery container assembly may even comprise an auxiliary guide arrangement for such angular alignment.Detailed description of the invention

[0029] While various features of the invention have been presented in general terms above, a more detailed and non-limiting example of embodiment is given in the following with reference to the drawings, in whichFig. 1 is a perspective view of a battery container assembly according to the invention when in an assembled state;Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the battery container assembly shown in Fig. 1 ;Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of a label dispensing arrangement, which is part of the battery container assembly;Fig. 4 is a top view of the label dispensing arrangement;Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 4, with a label roll installed;Fig. 6 depicts a top lid with a part of a label film and a label extending out of it;Fig. 7 is a schematic top view of an alternative embodiment of a label dispensing arrangement;Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the top lid with parts of a pressure relief valve removed for illustrational purpose;Fig. 9 is a perspective cross-section view through the top lid, illustrating details of an embodiment of the pressure relief valve;Fig. 10 is a cross-section view of the pressure relief valve, shown in an open state;Fig. 11 is a cross-section view corresponding to Fig. 10, showing however the pressure relief valve in its closed state; andFig. 12 depicts the top lid with a schematic view, seen partly from below.

[0030] Fig. 1 depicts a battery container assembly 1 according to an embodiment of the invention with a perspective view. The same battery container assembly 1 is also shown in Fig. 2 with an exploded perspective view.

[0031] The battery container assembly 1 comprises a container 3 for storage of used batteries (not shown). Attached to the container 3, there is a label dispensing arrangement 5. Moreover, to the label dispensing arrangement 5, there is attached a pressure relief valve 7.

[0032] The pressure relief valve 7, which will be discussed in detail further below, is provided for allowing relief of overpressure inside the container 3, such as if a battery explodes and / or catches fire.

[0033] While the battery container assembly 1 shown in Fig. 1 has a circular, cylindrical shape, other shapes are also possible. For instance, the battery container assembly 1 can have a cubic shape with a rectangular, triangular or other polygonal cross section. Non-cylindrical shapes are also possible.

[0034] The exploded perspective view of Fig. 2 gives a better impression of the configurations of the various parts of the battery container assembly 1 . Furthermore, a battery receptacle 9 is shown. The battery receptacle 9 is configured to be arranged inside the container 3 and to accommodate batteries. Preferably, the battery receptacle 9 is made of a fire-resistant material. Preferably, the material is also electrically non-conductive. The battery receptacle 9 can be installed as a retrievable lining inside the container 3. The battery receptacle 9 can thus for example be in form of a flexible bag.

[0035] The container 3 comprises an electrically non-conductive inner face 10. This is to reduce the risk of batteries short-circuiting when stored inside the container. In some embodiments, the non-conductive inner face 10 is the inner face of the container 3 itself. In other embodiments, as the one discussed herein, the non- conductive inner face 10 can be the inner face of the battery receptacle 9 (cf. Fig. 2).Preferably, the inner face of the container 3 and the inner face of the battery receptacle 9 are both non-conductive.

[0036] In Fig. 2, shown in association with the label dispensing arrangement 5 is a label roll 101. As will be discussed in further detail later, the label roll 101 comprises a plurality of labels 103 that are suited for being taped onto the pole of a battery.

[0037] A top lid 11 constitute an upper portion of the battery container assembly 1 .

[0038] While the main parts of the battery container assembly 1 has now been generally introduced, a more detailed discussion of them will be given in the following.

[0039] Reference is now made to Fig. 3. The label dispensing arrangement 5, of which a portion is shown in Fig. 3, comprises a main body 13. The main body 13 has a connection portion 13a configured to attach to attachment means 3a of the battery container 3 (cf. Fig. 2). The attachment means 3a and the opposite interface of the connection portion 13a can for instance be threads. The attachment and disconnection of the main body 13 to the battery container 3 can thus be performed with a mutual rotational movement. Furthermore, the main body 13 has a connection interface 13c configured to connect to the top lid 11 , such as with a snap-on mounting.

[0040] To the main body 13 there is also arranged a label roll holder 15. The label roll holder 15 extends upwardly from a main body plate 13b. The label roll holder 15 is in the shown embodiment in the form of an upwardly extending pipe piece. The label roll holder 15 has an inner bore that constitutes a vent channel 15a. The vent channel 15a provides a fluid communication between the interior of the battery container 3 and the pressure relief valve 7.

[0041] The top view of Fig. 4 depicts a vent aperture 15b arranged in the main body plate 13b, that communicates with the vent channel 15a.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the label dispensing arrangement 5 comprises a label guiding arrangement 17. The label guiding arrangement 17 is configured to guide a strip from the label roll 101 out of the battery container assembly 1.Moreover, it is configured to enable easy removal of labels 103 from the label roll 101 . Its function will now be discussed with reference to Fig. 3, Fig. 4, and Fig. 5.

[0043] Fig. 5 is an enlarged top view portion, showing a label roll 101 surrounding the label roll holder 15. The label roll 101 comprises labels 103 that are releasably attached to a label film 105 with an adhesive or glue. When installing the label roll 101 with the label dispensing arrangement 5, a strip of the label roll 101 is fitted with the label guiding arrangement 17, as shown and as discussed below.

[0044] The label guiding arrangement 17 comprises guiding plates 19. The guiding plates 19 are curved and extend in parallel with the axial direction of the center axis of the label roll 101 . Hence, in the present embodiment, the guiding plates 19 extend upwardly, as does the label roll holder 15.

[0045] The label guiding plates 19 together form a first guide channel 21 , a second guide channel 23, and an intermediate channel 25. The first guide channel 21 has a first guide channel entry 21 a and a first guide channel mouth 21 b. Correspondingly, the second guide channel 23 has a second guide channel entry 23a and a second guide channel mouth 23b.

[0046] The first guide channel mouth 21 b and the second guide channel mouth 23b are aligned with a label film exit slot 27 and a label exit slot 29.

[0047] Moreover, the intermediate channel 25 extends between the label film exit slot 27 and the label exit slot 29.

[0048] The label film exit slot 27 and the label exit slot 29 are arranged in the top lid 11.

[0049] A strip of the label roll 101 extends through the second guide channel entry 23a, into the second guide channel 23, and out through the second guide channel mouth 23b. From the second guide channel mouth 23b, the label film 105 makes an abrupt turn and enters the intermediate channel 25. Due to the abrupt turn, a label 103 lets go of the label film 105 and extends out through the label exit slot 29. It can then easily be picked off by the user.

[0050] The label film 105 extends through said intermediate channel 25 and exits through the label film exit slot 27.

[0051] When a user needs another label 103, the user can simply pull the label film 105 and another label 103 will appear through the label exit slot 29.

[0052] Notably, in the embodiment disclosed herein, the label guiding arrangement 17 is symmetrical, such that the user can install the label roll 101 either way. In other words, if the label roll 101 is installed oppositely than what is shown in Fig. 5 (such as shown in Fig. 2), the label exit slot 29 would be the label film exit slot 27, and vice versa.

[0053] While the shown embodiment has said first and second guide channels 21 , 23 and intermediate channel 25, the solution may also function satisfactorily without such channels. For instance, it may suffice to include a first mouth (corresponding to the first guide channel mouth 21 b) and an edge, such as corresponding to the end of the shown intermediate channel, to obtain said abrupt deviation of the label film 105.

[0054] As appears from the top view of Fig. 4, the vent channel 15a comprises a lattice arrangement 15c. The lattice arrangement 15c is located at the mouth of the vent channel 15a that faces the battery container 3. The purpose of the lattice arrangement 15c is to prevent batteries (not shown) to enter and possibly get stuck inside the vent channel 15a. Such a stuck battery could prevent the rapid outflow of hot gases, and could also incinerate the stuck battery, as it would be exposed to the warm gases.

[0055] Fig. 6 depicts the top lid 11 with a label 103 exiting through the label exit slot 29 and the label film 105 exiting through the label film exit slot 27.

[0056] Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment, without the first and second guide channels 21 , 23. With this embodiment, the label dispensing arrangement 5 comprises the label film exit slot 27 and the label exit slot 29. To obtain the abrupt turn of the label film 105, there is arranged a first guide member 33 and a second guide member 35. The label film 105 is guided between the first and second guide members 35, such that a label will exit through the label exit slot 29 while the label film 105 is led out through the label film exit slot 27. The first and second guide members 33, 35 can have various configurations. For instance, they can be upwardly extending pins, e.g. extending upward from the main body plate 13b. In this embodiment, the first guide member 33, the second guide member 35, and the label film exit slot 27, are parts of the label guiding arrangement 17.

[0057] The pressure relief valve 7 will now be discussed in further detail with reference to Fig. 8 to Fig. 11 . Fig. 8 depicts the top lid 11 (cf. also Fig. 1 and Fig. 2)with a perspective view. It comprises a top plate 37 from which a skirt 39 extends downwardly. The skirt 39 comprises the label film exit slot 27 and the label exit slot 29, which were discussed above.

[0058] The top plate 37 comprises a valve aperture 41 , through which exhaust gas can exit the battery container assembly 1 . The valve aperture 41 communicates with the vent channel 15a, as discussed above. This is perhaps best shown in Fig. 11 .

[0059] Within the valve aperture 41 there is arranged a valve stem holder 43, configured to support a valve stem 45 that connects to a valve cap 47. The valve stem 45 and valve cap 47 are depicted with the perspective cross-section view of Fig. 9. The valve stem holder 43 is supported in the valve aperture 41 with a plurality of aperture bars 49.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 9, the valve stem 45, being a part of the valve cap 47, extends downwards through the valve stem holder 43. A spring 51 surrounding the valve stem 45 is interposed between a stem head 53 and the valve stem holder 43 to maintain the pressure relief valve 7 in a closed position during normal conditions.

[0061] The valve cap 47 comprises an upper portion 47a and a cap skirt 47b that extends down from the upper portion 47a. When the pressure relief valve 7 is in its closed mode, the lower rim 47c of the cap skirt 47b abuts against a portion of the top plate 37 of the top lid 11 .

[0062] At an excessive pressure inside the container 3, the pressure will lift the valve cap 47 upwards to compress the spring 51 . The lower rim 47c of the cap skirt 47b will then move off the top plate 37 to allow gas to exit the battery container assembly 1 . This situation is shown in Fig. 9 and with the cross-section view of Fig. 10.

[0063] Distributed about the valve aperture 41 , extending upwards from the top plate 37, is a plurality of cap guiding elements 55. The cap guiding elements 55 are arranged radially within the cap skirt 47b of the valve cap 47. As the valve cap 47 moves between its open and closed states, the cap skirt 47b may slide along the cap guiding elements 55.

[0064] Furthermore, a plurality of outflow gaps 57 are arranged between the cap guiding elements 55, through which gas may flow.

[0065] As the skilled reader will realize by studying Fig. 8 to Fig. 10, an abrupt overpressure within the battery container 3 will exit through the outflow gaps 57. Moreover, the direction of the gas flow will be substantially horizontal, parallel with the top plate 37 of the top lid 11 . The gas flow will further be distributed substantially evenly through the plurality of the outflow gaps 57, such that the battery container assembly 1 will remain standing (i.e. it will not fall over due to an unevenly distributed gas flow). This, combined with the vertical elevation of the gas flow, contributes to reducing the risk of igniting nearby objects that may be placed near the battery container assembly 1 .

[0066] Fig. 11 depicts the pressure relief valve 7 in its closed state. The lower rim 47c of the valve cap 47 abuts against the top plate 37 of the top lid 11 . Comparison of Fig. 10, showing the open state, and Fig. 11 which depicts the closed state, illustrates how the inner face of the cap skirt 47b slides along and against the cap guiding elements 55. This guiding action occurs along the entire path of the valve cap 47, between the open and closed states.

[0067] In the shown embodiment, forming part of the valve aperture 41 is an aperture rim 41 a that extends downwards and that surrounds the upper portion of the vent channel 15a. This is perhaps best shown in Fig. 11 . This contributes to a controlled outflow of gas, i.e. one reduces or prevents gas to flow out through the label film exit slot 27 and the label exit slot 29. Instead, the gas is guided upwards towards the valve cap 47 and out through the outflow gaps 57.

[0068] Fig. 12 depicts a part of the top lid 11 with a perspective view, seen partly from below. Shown inside the circular body of the top lid 11 are two guide elements 59a. The guide elements 59a are configured to be received by guide recesses 59b arranged in the main body 13, as shown in Fig. 3. In particular, the guide recesses 59b are arranged in a guide collar 13d of the main body 13.

[0069] Although two guide elements 59a and two guide recesses 59b are shown in the present embodiment, one may also have one of each, or more than two. The guide elements 59a and guide recesses 59b together form a guide arrangement 59. The guide arrangement 59 is configured to ensure an aligned angular position between the main body 13 and the top lid 11 .

[0070] In addition to the guide arrangement, the shown embodiment also comprises an auxiliary guide arrangement 61 (cf. Fig. 1 ). The auxiliary guide arrangement comprises a set of guide protrusions 13e. The guide protrusions 13e are configured to extend into the label film exit slot 27 and the label exit slot 29. The auxiliary guide arrangement 61 thus also contributes to provide the correct angular alignment when mounting the top lid 11 to the main body 13.

[0071] Notably, when removing the top lid 11 from the main body 13, the user must use an axial movement, i.e. the top lid 11 must be pulled along the axial center axis to remove it from the main body 13. When the main body 13 is removed from the battery container 3, however, a twisting or rotational movement must be used. When twisting or rotating, the guide arrangement and the auxiliary guide arrangement prevent mutual rotation of the top lid 11 with respect to the main body 13.Consequently, the grip of the user when performing the rotation movement is not restricted only to the main body 13 and the battery container 3. The user may also grip onto the top lid 11 and still be able to perform the said rotation.

Claims

Claims1 . A battery container assembly (1 ) for storage and recycling of used batteries, wherein the battery container comprises- a battery container (3) comprising an electrically non-conductive inner face (10);- a label dispensing arrangement (5);- a pressure relief valve (7).

2. A battery container assembly (1) according to claim 1 , wherein it further comprises a battery receptacle (9) arranged inside the container (3), wherein the battery receptacle (9) is made of a fire-resistant material and comprises the non-conductive inner face (10).

3. A battery container assembly (1 ) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the label dispensing arrangement (5) comprises a label roll holder (15), a label film exit slot (27) and a label exit slot (29).

4. A battery container assembly (1 ) according to claim 3, wherein the label dispensing arrangement (5) comprises a label guiding arrangement (17) configured to provide a turn of a label film (105) to release a label (103) from said label film (105).

5. A battery container assembly (1 ) according to claim 3 and claim 4, wherein the label guiding arrangement (17) comprises- an intermediate channel (25) between the label film exit slot (27) and the label exit slot (29);- a first guide channel (21 ) ending at the label film exit slot (27);- a second guide channel (23) ending at the label exit slot (29).

6. A battery container assembly (1 ) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the label roll holder (15) comprises a vent channel (15a) in fluid connection with the pressure relief valve (7) and the battery container (3).

7. A battery container assembly (1 ) according to claim 6, wherein the vent channel (15a) comprises a lattice arrangement (15c) at a vent channel inlet facing the battery container (3).

8. A battery container assembly (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it further comprises a top lid (11 ) that comprises the pressure relief valve (7), and wherein the pressure relief valve (7) comprises- a vent aperture (41 ), wherein the top lid (11 ) comprises a top plate (37) that comprises the vent aperture (41 );- a valve cap (47) covering the vent aperture (41 ), wherein the valve cap (47) is movable between an open position and a closed position.

9. A battery container assembly (1) according to claim 8, wherein the valve cap (47) comprises a cap skirt (47b) with a lower rim (47c) configured to abut against the top lid (11 ) when in the closed state, and wherein the pressure relief valve (7) further comprises cap guiding elements (55) that are attached to the top lid (11 ), that are distributed with outflow gaps (57) between them, and that are distributed radially within said cap skirt (47b).

10. A battery container assembly (1 ) according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the top lid (11 ) comprises an aperture rim (41 a) extending down from the top plate (37) and encircling an upper part of the vent channel (15a).11 . A battery container assembly (1 ) according to claim 8, wherein it comprises a guide arrangement (59) configured to angularly align the top lid (11 ) with a main body (13) of the label dispensing arrangement (5).

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