Valve-opening device and vacuum oven

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application are a valve-opening device and a vacuum oven. The valve-opening device comprises a lifting assembly, a support assembly and a valve-opening assembly, wherein the support assembly is arranged on the lifting assembly, and the lifting assembly is configured to drive the support assembly to move in a first direction; and one end of the valve-opening assembly in the first direction is connected to the support assembly, and the other end of the valve-opening assembly is configured to be in contact with a valve body at an electrolyte injection hole in a battery cell. A switching valve at the electrolyte injection hole can be opened under an acting force applied by the valve-opening assembly to the valve body, such that the interior of a casing of the battery cell is in communication with a chamber of the vacuum oven, thereby drying the battery cell in a vacuum environment, and improving the production efficiency of battery cells.

Description

Valve opening device and vacuum oven

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202323590830.8, filed on December 27, 2023, entitled “Valve opening device and vacuum oven,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a valve opening device and a vacuum oven. Background Art

[0004] Battery cells are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, electric bicycles, electric cars, electric airplanes, electric boats, electric toy cars, electric toy boats, electric toy airplanes, and power tools. Battery cells can include nickel-cadmium battery cells, nickel-metal hydride battery cells, lithium-ion battery cells, and secondary alkaline zinc-manganese battery cells.

[0005] Currently, vacuum ovens are mainly used for battery cells with open injection holes. For battery cells with on-off valves installed at the injection holes, the lack of valve opening devices reduces the production efficiency of battery cells.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The embodiments of the present application provide a valve opening device and a vacuum oven, which can improve the production efficiency of battery cells.

[0008] In the first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a valve opening device, which includes a lifting assembly, a support assembly and a valve opening assembly, wherein the support assembly is arranged on the lifting assembly, and the lifting assembly is used to drive the support assembly to move along a first direction; one end of the valve opening assembly along the first direction is connected to the support assembly, and the other end is used to contact the valve body of the liquid injection hole of the battery cell.

[0009] In the above scheme, the lifting assembly drives the support assembly to move in the first direction, and the valve opening assembly can follow the movement of the support assembly, thereby contacting the valve body of the liquid injection hole of the battery cell. The force of the valve opening assembly on the valve body can open the switch valve of the liquid injection hole, so that the interior of the battery cell shell is connected to the chamber of the vacuum oven, thereby realizing the drying of the battery cell in a vacuum environment, thereby improving the production efficiency of the battery cell.

[0010] In some embodiments, the support assembly includes a frame and a support member, the frame is connected to the lifting assembly; both ends of the support member are respectively connected to the frame, and the valve opening assembly is movably arranged on the support member along the second direction; wherein the first direction and the second direction are arranged to intersect.

[0011] In the above solution, the position of the valve opening assembly can be adjusted along the second direction to adapt to different battery cells.

[0012] In some embodiments, a plurality of valve opening assemblies are provided on the support member.

[0013] By providing multiple valve opening assemblies, valves of multiple battery cells can be opened simultaneously, further improving the production efficiency of battery cells.

[0014] In some embodiments, there are multiple support members, and the multiple support members are arranged at intervals along the third direction; wherein the third direction intersects with the first direction and the second direction respectively.

[0015] By arranging a plurality of support members along the third direction, the number of valve opening assemblies is increased, and the production efficiency of battery cells is further improved.

[0016] In some embodiments, the support is movably connected to the frame along a third direction.

[0017] In the above solution, the support member can move along the third direction to adapt to battery cells of different sizes.

[0018] In some embodiments, the lifting assembly includes a fixed rod and a lifting guide rod, the fixed rod extends along a first direction; the lifting guide rod is slidably disposed on the fixed rod along the first direction, and the support assembly is connected to the lifting guide rod.

[0019] In the above solution, the lifting guide rod slides relative to the fixed rod along the first direction, thereby improving the stability of the valve opening assembly when sliding along the first direction.

[0020] In some embodiments, the end of the valve opening assembly away from the support assembly includes an inner recess and an outer portion, the outer portion is arranged on the periphery of the inner recess, and the end of the outer portion away from the support assembly is convex relative to the end of the inner recess away from the support assembly.

[0021] In the above solution, the inner concave portion is used to contact the valve body, and the protruding outer portion can be used to abut against the end cover to limit the valve opening stroke and prevent the switch valve from being damaged to a certain extent.

[0022] In some embodiments, a groove is provided at one end of the inner recess away from the supporting assembly, and a notch communicating with the groove is provided at the outer peripheral portion.

[0023] In the above solution, when heated, the gas inside the battery cell shell can flow into the vacuum cavity through the grooves and notches, thereby achieving vacuum drying.

[0024] In some embodiments, the valve opening assembly includes a connecting portion, an elastic portion and a telescopic rod, wherein the connecting portion is connected to the supporting assembly; the elastic portion is telescopically arranged on the connecting portion along a first direction; the telescopic rod is arranged at one end of the elastic portion away from the connecting portion, and the telescopic rod is used to contact the valve body of the liquid injection hole of the battery cell.

[0025] In the above solution, the telescopic portion can be extended and retracted along the first direction to adapt to the height of the battery cell, thereby improving the valve opening accuracy of the valve opening device.

[0026] In some embodiments, the connecting portion is disposed around the outer circumference of the elastic portion, and a portion of the telescopic rod is located inside the connecting portion.

[0027] In the above solution, the elastic part and the telescopic rod are protected by the connecting part, thereby improving the reliability of the valve opening assembly.

[0028] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a vacuum oven, comprising a box body and a valve opening device according to any of the above embodiments. The box body is provided with a vacuum cavity; the valve opening device is provided in the vacuum cavity.

[0029] In some embodiments, a position sensor is provided on the box body, and the position sensor is used to determine the position of the valve opening component of the valve opening device.

[0030] In the above solution, the lifting stroke of the valve opening component can be monitored by the in-position sensor, thereby further improving the valve opening accuracy of the valve opening device.

[0031] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of this application, it can be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification. In order to make the features and advantages of this application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of this application are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0033] FIG1 is an exploded schematic diagram of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0034] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a valve opening device according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0035] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a vacuum oven according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0036] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the on-off valve of the liquid injection hole in some embodiments of the present application when the valve is not opened;

[0037] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of an on-off valve of a liquid injection hole in some embodiments of the present application in an open state;

[0038] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a valve opening device according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0039] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a valve opening assembly according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0040] FIG8 is a partial structural schematic diagram of a valve opening assembly according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0041] Explanation of the accompanying drawings: 20, battery cell; 21, end cover; 22, shell; 23, electrode assembly; 26, electrode terminal; 27, injection hole; 28, switch valve; 281, valve body; 282, valve sleeve; 283, fixed section; 284, telescopic section; 285, sealing section; 100, valve opening device; 10, lifting assembly; 11, fixing rod; 12, lifting guide rod; 30, support assembly; 31, frame; 32, support member; 40, valve opening assembly; 41, recessed portion; 411, groove; 42, outer portion; 421, notch; 43, connecting portion; 44, elastic portion; 45, telescopic rod; 1000, vacuum oven; box body 200; X, first direction; Y, second direction; Z, third direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The following detailed description of the embodiments of the present application is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. The following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings are used to illustrate the principles of the present application, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present application, that is, the present application is not limited to the described embodiments.

[0043] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means more than two; the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating directions or positional relationships, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting this application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. "Vertical" is not strictly perpendicular, but is within the allowable error range. "Parallel" is not strictly parallel, but is within the allowable error range.

[0044] References to "embodiments" in this application mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments.

[0045] The directional words appearing in the following description are all directions shown in the figures, and do not limit the specific structure of this application. In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0046] In this application, battery cells may include lithium-ion secondary batteries, lithium-ion primary batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium-lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, or magnesium-ion batteries, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit this. Battery cells may be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or other shapes, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit this. Battery cells are generally divided into three types based on the packaging method: cylindrical battery cells, prismatic battery cells, and soft-pack battery cells, and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0047] The battery referred to in the embodiments of this application refers to a single physical module that includes one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery referred to in this application may include a battery module or a battery pack. A battery generally includes a casing that encloses one or more battery cells. The casing prevents liquids or other foreign matter from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0048] A battery cell includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte. The electrode assembly consists of a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and a separator. A battery cell primarily operates by the movement of metal ions between the positive and negative electrode sheets. The positive electrode sheet comprises a positive current collector and a positive active material layer. The positive active material layer is coated on the surface of the positive current collector. The current collector uncoated with the positive active material layer protrudes from the current collector coated with the positive active material layer. The current collectors uncoated with the positive active material layer, when stacked, serve as the positive electrode tabs. For lithium-ion batteries, for example, the positive current collector can be made of aluminum, and the positive active material can be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, or lithium manganese oxide. The negative electrode sheet comprises a negative current collector and a negative active material layer. The negative active material layer is coated on the surface of the negative current collector. The current collector uncoated with the negative active material layer protrudes from the current collector coated with the negative active material layer. The current collectors uncoated with the negative active material layer, when stacked, serve as the negative electrode tabs. The negative current collector can be made of copper, and the negative active material can be carbon, silicon, or other materials. The material of the isolation film may be PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene), etc. In addition, the electrode assembly may be a wound structure or a laminated structure, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0049] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a battery cell 20 provided in some embodiments of the present application. A battery cell 20 is the smallest unit that makes up a battery. As shown in Figure 1, a battery cell 20 includes an end cap 21, a housing 22, an electrode assembly 23, and other functional components.

[0050] The end cap 21 refers to a component that covers the opening of the shell 22 to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 20 from the external environment. Without limitation, the shape of the end cap 21 can be adapted to the shape of the shell 22 to match the shell 22. Optionally, the end cap 21 can be made of a material with a certain hardness and strength (such as aluminum alloy), so that the end cap 21 is not easily deformed when squeezed or collided, so that the battery cell 20 can have a higher structural strength and improved reliability. Functional components such as electrode terminals 26 can be provided on the end cap 21. The electrode terminal 26 can be used to electrically connect to the electrode assembly 23 for outputting or inputting electrical energy of the battery cell 20. In some embodiments, the end cap 21 can also be provided with a pressure relief mechanism for releasing internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 reaches a threshold. The material of the end cap 21 includes but is not limited to copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc. In some embodiments, an insulating member may be provided inside the end cap 21 to isolate the electrical connection components in the housing 22 from the end cap 21 to reduce the risk of short circuit. For example, the insulating member may be made of plastic, rubber, or the like.

[0051] The housing 22 is a component that cooperates with the end caps 21 to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20. This internal environment can accommodate the electrode assembly 23, electrolyte, and other components. The housing 22 and end caps 21 can be separate components. An opening can be provided in the housing 22, and the end caps 21 are placed over the opening to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20. In some examples, the housing 22 is a hollow structure with an opening on one side, and the end cap 21 is a single end cap that covers the opening of the housing 22. In other examples, the housing 22 is a hollow structure with openings on both sides, and there are two end caps 21, each of which covers the two openings of the housing 22. Alternatively, the end caps 21 and housing 22 can be integrated. Specifically, the end caps 21 and housing 22 can form a common connection surface before other components are inserted into the housing. When the interior of the housing 22 needs to be sealed, the end caps 21 are placed over the housing 22. The housing 22 can have a variety of shapes and sizes, such as rectangular parallelepiped, cylindrical, hexagonal, etc. Specifically, the shape of the housing 22 can be determined according to the specific shape and size of the electrode assembly 23. The housing 22 can be made of various materials, including but not limited to copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc.

[0052] Each battery cell 20 can be a secondary battery or a primary battery; it can also be a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited thereto. The battery cell 20 can be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or in other shapes.

[0053] During the manufacturing process of battery cells, there is usually some air, moisture and other gases inside the battery cells. These gases may have a negative impact on the performance and life of the battery cells. By placing them in a vacuum oven and evacuating them, these gases can be effectively removed to ensure that the interior of the battery cell is a relatively dry and gas-free environment. After evacuating the battery cell in the vacuum oven, the electrolyte can be better penetrated into the microscopic gaps of the positive and negative electrode materials of the battery cell, which helps to improve the performance and efficiency of the battery cell. At present, conventional vacuum ovens are mainly aimed at battery cells with open injection holes. However, for battery cells with a switch valve set in the injection hole, it is necessary to open the switch valve first and then perform the heating and vacuuming steps. Due to the lack of a valve opening device, the production efficiency of the battery cell is reduced.

[0054] In view of this, the present application provides a technical solution, in which the support assembly is driven to move in a first direction by a lifting assembly, and the valve opening assembly can follow the movement of the support assembly, thereby contacting the valve body of the liquid injection hole of the battery cell. The switching valve of the liquid injection hole can be opened by the force of the valve opening assembly on the valve body, so that the interior of the battery cell shell is connected to the chamber of the vacuum oven, thereby realizing the drying of the battery cell in a vacuum environment and improving the production efficiency of the battery cell.

[0055] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a valve opening device according to some embodiments of the present application; FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a vacuum oven according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0056] Please refer to Figures 2 and 3. In the first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a valve opening device 100, which includes a lifting assembly 10, a support assembly 30 and a valve opening assembly 40. The support assembly 30 is arranged on the lifting assembly 10, and the lifting assembly 10 is used to drive the support assembly 30 to move along the first direction X; one end of the valve opening assembly 40 along the first direction X is connected to the support assembly 30, and the other end is used to contact the valve body 281 of the liquid injection hole 27 of the battery cell 20.

[0057] The valve opening device 100 is disposed within the vacuum chamber of the vacuum oven 1000. The lifting assembly 10 can utilize various methods, such as a pneumatic cylinder, an electric cylinder, a cam, a connecting rod, or a gear, to drive the support assembly 30 to move along a first direction X. The support assembly 30 can be a frame 31 or a plate-like structure. The first direction X can be the height of the battery cell 20.

[0058] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the switch valve of the liquid injection hole in some embodiments of the present application when the valve is not opened; FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the switch valve of the liquid injection hole in some embodiments of the present application when the valve is opened.

[0059] Referring to Figures 4 and 5 , the on-off valve 28 in the liquid injection hole 27 of the battery cell 20 may include a valve body 281 and a valve sleeve 282. The valve body 281 is inserted into the valve sleeve 282. The valve sleeve 282 includes a fixed section 283, a telescopic section 284, and a sealing section 285, which are connected in sequence. The fixed section 283 is fixed to the portion of the end cap 21 along the edge of the liquid injection hole 27. When the on-off valve 28 is closed, the telescopic section 284 is compressed, the sealing section 285 is close to the fixed section 283, and the sealing section 285 contacts the end cap 21 to seal the liquid injection hole 27. When the lifting assembly 10 drives the supporting assembly 30 to move downward, the valve opening assembly 40 contacts the valve body 281 and generates a downward force on the valve body 281. The valve body 281 exerts a downward force on the sealing section 285, causing the telescopic section 284 to gradually extend, and the sealing section 285 gradually moves away from the fixed section 283. The sealing section 285 detaches from the end cover 21, exposing the through hole of the telescopic section 284. The gas inside the shell 22 can enter the through hole of the valve body 281 through the through hole of the telescopic section 284, and then flow out to the outside of the shell 22.

[0060] When baking is completed, the valve assembly 40 moves upward, and the valve device 100 is in place before the vacuum breaking step is performed, which ensures that the switch valve 28 of the battery cell 20 is in a closed state to a certain extent, and the interior of the battery cell 20 is in a vacuum state, and then gas is flushed into the vacuum cavity to break the vacuum to normal pressure.

[0061] In the above scheme, the lifting assembly 10 drives the support assembly 30 to move along the first direction X, and the valve opening assembly 40 can follow the support assembly 30 to move, thereby contacting the valve body 281 of the liquid injection hole 27 of the battery cell 20. The force of the valve opening assembly 40 on the valve body 281 can open the switch valve 28 of the liquid injection hole 27, so that the interior of the shell 22 of the battery cell 20 is connected to the chamber of the vacuum oven 1000, thereby realizing the drying of the battery cell 20 in a vacuum environment, thereby improving the production efficiency of the battery cell 20.

[0062] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a valve opening device according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0063] As shown in Figure 6, in some embodiments, the support assembly 30 includes a frame 31 and a support member 32, the frame 31 is connected to the lifting assembly 10; both ends of the support member 32 are respectively connected to the frame 31, and the valve opening assembly 40 is movably arranged on the support member 32 along the second direction Y; wherein the first direction X and the second direction Y are arranged to intersect.

[0064] The frame 31 can be rectangular, square, or other polygonal in shape. The support member 32 can be a support rod, support column, or other structure. The second direction Y can be the thickness direction of the battery cell 20. The valve assembly 40 can be movably connected to the support member 32 via a slider, a snap, or other means. The position of the valve assembly 40 can be adjusted along the second direction Y to accommodate battery cells 20 of varying thicknesses.

[0065] In the above solution, the position of the valve opening assembly 40 can be adjusted along the second direction Y to adapt to different battery cells 20 .

[0066] In some embodiments, a plurality of valve opening assemblies 40 are disposed on the support member 32 .

[0067] The plurality of valve opening assemblies 40 may be arranged at intervals, and the plurality of valve opening assemblies 40 may be movable along the first direction X, so that the spacing between adjacent valve opening assemblies 40 may be adjusted to accommodate battery cells 20 of different thicknesses.

[0068] In the embodiment of the present application, by providing a plurality of valve opening assemblies 40 , valves of a plurality of battery cells 20 can be opened simultaneously, thereby further improving the production efficiency of the battery cells 20 .

[0069] In some embodiments, there are multiple support members 32 , and the multiple support members 32 are arranged at intervals along the third direction Z; wherein the third direction Z is arranged to intersect with the first direction X and the second direction Y respectively.

[0070] The third direction Z may be the length direction of the battery cell 20 . In the embodiment of the present application, a plurality of support members 32 are provided along the third direction Z, thereby increasing the number of valve opening assemblies 40 and further improving the production efficiency of the battery cell 20 .

[0071] In some embodiments, the support member 32 is movably connected to the frame 31 along the third direction Z.

[0072] The support member 32 can be connected to the frame 31 by means of a slider, a buckle, etc., so that the support member 32 can move along the third direction Z. For battery cells 20 of different lengths, the position of each support member 32 can be adjusted so that the valve opening assembly 40 can be located just above the injection hole 27.

[0073] In the above solution, the support member 32 can move along the third direction Z to adapt to battery cells 20 of different sizes.

[0074] In some embodiments, the lifting assembly 10 includes a fixed rod 11 and a lifting guide rod 12 , the fixed rod 11 extends along the first direction X; the lifting guide rod 12 is slidably disposed on the fixed rod 11 along the first direction X, and the support assembly 30 is connected to the lifting guide rod 12 .

[0075] A pneumatic cylinder, an electric cylinder, or the like can be connected to the lifting guide rod 12 to drive the lifting guide rod 12 to slide along the fixed rod 11. Lifting assemblies 10 can be respectively disposed at multiple corner regions of the frame 31 of the support assembly 30, so that the support assembly 30 is supported by the lifting assemblies 10, and the multiple lifting assemblies 10 can smoothly drive the support assembly 30 to move along the first direction X.

[0076] In the above solution, the lifting guide rod 12 slides along the first direction X relative to the fixed rod 11, so that the stability of the valve opening assembly 40 when sliding along the first direction X can be improved.

[0077] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the valve opening assembly of some embodiments of the present application; FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the partial structure of the valve opening assembly of some embodiments of the present application.

[0078] Please refer to Figures 7 and 8 in combination. In some embodiments, the end of the valve opening assembly 40 away from the support assembly 30 includes an inner recess 41 and an outer portion 42. The outer portion 42 is arranged on the outer periphery of the inner recess 41, and the end of the outer portion 42 away from the support assembly 30 is protruded relative to the end of the inner recess 41 away from the support assembly 30.

[0079] After the battery cell 20 enters the vacuum oven 1000, the support assembly 30 descends, driving the valve opening assembly 40 downward. The inner recess 41 squeezes the valve body 281, which in turn presses down on the valve sleeve 282 to open the valve. The valve opening assembly 40 moves further downward, and the outer portion 42 of the valve opening assembly 40 contacts the end cap 21. The deformation of the telescopic section 284 of the valve sleeve 282 fully meets the valve opening requirements. The opening stroke of the on-off valve 28 is determined by the depth of the inner recess 41 of the valve opening assembly 40 relative to the outer portion 42. When the valve is open, the outer portion 42 contacts the end cap 21.

[0080] The outer diameter of the inner recess 41 is larger than the outer diameter of the valve body 281 , so as to accommodate the position deviation of the valve body 281 caused by the position fluctuation of the battery cell 20 .

[0081] In the above solution, the inner recess 41 is used to contact the valve body 281, and the protruding outer portion 42 can be used to abut against the end cover 21 to limit the valve opening stroke and prevent the switch valve 28 from being damaged to a certain extent.

[0082] In some embodiments, a groove 411 is provided at one end of the inner recess 41 away from the supporting assembly 30 , and a notch 421 communicating with the groove 411 is provided at the outer portion 42 .

[0083] A plurality of grooves 411 may be provided at the end of the inner recess 41, and the grooves 411 penetrate the inner recess 41 and communicate with the notches 421. During heating, the gas inside the battery cell 20 housing 22 may flow into the vacuum chamber through the grooves 411 and notches 421, thereby achieving vacuum drying.

[0084] In some embodiments, the valve opening assembly 40 includes a connecting portion 43, an elastic portion 44 and a telescopic rod 45, the connecting portion 43 is connected to the support assembly 30; the elastic portion 44 is telescopically arranged on the connecting portion 43 along the first direction X; the telescopic rod 45 is arranged at one end of the elastic portion 44 away from the connecting portion 43, and the telescopic rod 45 is used to contact the valve body 281 of the liquid injection hole 27 of the battery cell 20.

[0085] The elastic portion 44 can be a deformable structure such as a spring. To accommodate differences in height between the battery cells 20 and the valve body 281, after the outer portion 42 of the valve opening assembly 40 contacts the end cap 21, the valve opening assembly 40 continues to move downward for a certain distance. Because the elastic portion 44 has a certain degree of compression, the overpressure of the valve opening assembly 40 can be absorbed by the elastic portion 44. The effective compression of the elastic portion 44 exceeds the maximum overpressure of the valve opening assembly 40. When the stroke of the on-off valve 28 meets the requirements, the pressure of the valve opening assembly 40 exceeds the maximum rebound force of the valve sleeve 282.

[0086] In the above solution, the telescopic portion can be extended and retracted along the first direction X to adapt to the height of the battery cell 20 , thereby improving the valve opening accuracy of the valve opening device 100 .

[0087] In some embodiments, the connecting portion 43 is disposed around the outer circumference of the elastic portion 44 , and a portion of the telescopic rod 45 is located inside the connecting portion 43 .

[0088] The connecting portion 43 is in the shape of a sleeve, the elastic portion 44 is accommodated inside the connecting portion 43, and a portion of the telescopic rod 45 is accommodated inside the connecting portion 43, while the other portion extends out of the connecting portion 43. The connecting portion 43 protects the elastic portion 44 and the telescopic rod 45, thereby improving the reliability of the valve opening assembly 40.

[0089] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a vacuum oven 1000 comprising a housing and a valve opening device 100 according to any of the above embodiments. The housing is provided with a vacuum cavity; the valve opening device 100 is provided in the vacuum cavity.

[0090] In some embodiments, a position sensor is provided on the box body, and the position sensor is used to determine the position of the valve opening component 40 of the valve opening device 100.

[0091] A position sensor is a device used to detect whether an object has reached a set position and output a signal. It is also called a position sensor, a limiter, etc. The position sensor can monitor the lifting stroke of the valve opening assembly 40, thereby further improving the valve opening accuracy of the valve opening device 100.

[0092] According to some embodiments of the present application, a valve opening device 100 is provided. The valve opening device 100 includes a lifting assembly 10, a support assembly 30, and a valve opening assembly 40. The support assembly 30 is disposed on the lifting assembly 10 and is configured to drive the support assembly 30 to move along a first direction X. One end of the valve opening assembly 40 along the first direction X is connected to the support assembly 30, and the other end is configured to contact the valve body 281 of the liquid injection hole 27 of the battery cell 20. The end of the valve opening assembly 40 away from the support assembly 30 includes an inner recess 41 and an outer portion 42. The outer portion 42 is disposed on the periphery of the inner recess 41, and the end of the outer portion 42 away from the support assembly 30 is convex relative to the end of the inner recess 41 away from the support assembly 30.

[0093] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and they should all be included in the scope of the claims and specification of the present application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A valve opening device, comprising: A lifting component; A support component disposed on the lifting component, the lifting component being configured to drive the support component to move in a first direction; A valve opening component, one end of the valve opening component in the first direction is connected to the support component, and the other end is configured to contact the valve body of the liquid injection hole of the battery cell.

2. The valve opening device according to claim 1, wherein, The support component includes: A frame connected to the lifting component; A support member, two ends of the support member are respectively connected to the frame, and the valve opening component is movably disposed on the support member in a second direction; wherein, the first direction intersects with the second direction.

3. The valve opening device according to claim 2, wherein, A plurality of the valve opening components are disposed on the support member.

4. The valve opening device according to claim 2, wherein, The number of the support members is plural, and the plurality of support members are spaced apart in a third direction; wherein, the third direction intersects with the first direction and the second direction respectively.

5. The valve opening device according to claim 4, wherein, The support member is movably connected to the frame in the third direction.

6. The valve opening device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, The lifting component includes: A fixed rod extending in the first direction; A lifting guide rod slidably disposed on the fixed rod in the first direction, and the support component is connected to the lifting guide rod.

7. The valve opening device according to claim 1, wherein, One end of the valve opening component away from the support component includes: A concave portion; A peripheral portion disposed on the outer periphery of the concave portion, and one end of the peripheral portion away from the support component protrudes relative to one end of the concave portion away from the support component.

8. The valve opening device according to claim 7, wherein A groove is disposed at one end of the concave portion away from the support component, and a notch communicating with the groove is disposed on the peripheral portion.

9. The valve opening device according to claim 1, wherein, The valve opening component includes: A connecting portion connected to the support component; An elastic portion telescopically disposed in the connecting portion in the first direction; A telescopic rod disposed at one end of the elastic portion away from the connecting portion, the telescopic rod being configured to contact the valve body of the liquid injection hole of the battery cell.

10. The valve opening device according to claim 9, wherein, The connecting portion is disposed around the outer periphery of the elastic portion, and a part of the telescopic rod is located inside the connecting portion.

11. A vacuum oven, comprising: A box body provided with a vacuum cavity; And, The valve opening device according to any one of claims 1-10, the valve opening device is disposed in the vacuum cavity.

12. The vacuum oven according to claim 11, wherein, A position inductor is disposed on the box body, and the position inductor is configured to judge the position of the valve opening component of the valve opening device.

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