Pressure regulation valve

Abstract

A pressure regulation valve (1) comprises: a housing (10) that has a plurality of through holes (11); and a valve body (20) that opens and closes each of the plurality of through holes (11). The housing (10) has a plurality of annular protrusions (30) that respectively surround openings (11a) of the plurality of through holes (11). The protrusions (30) protrude from the opening (11a) side and have a peak (31). The valve body (20) has a contact surface (21) that contacts the protrusions (30). The contact surface (21) of the valve body (20) contacts the protrusions (30) at annular contact regions (S) that have a width in the radial direction. The contact regions (S) of the contact surface (21) include a peak region (S1) that contacts the peak (31), an inside region (S2) that contacts the portion on the inner circumferential side of the peak (31), and an outside region (S3) that contacts the portion on the outer circumferential side of the peak (31). The protrusions (30) are shaped such that the width (w1) in the radial direction of the outside region (S3) is greater than the width (w2) in the radial direction of the inside region (S2).

Description

pressure regulating valve

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure regulating valve, and more particularly to a pressure regulating valve used in an electricity storage module.

[0002] Bipolar batteries (energy storage modules) are known that include bipolar electrodes, each consisting of a current collector with a positive electrode formed on one side and a negative electrode formed on the other. In such energy storage modules, the bipolar electrodes are stacked, and an internal space is formed between the current collectors of the opposing bipolar electrodes, defined by a sealing member, and an electrolyte is sealed in this internal space. Furthermore, a separator is interposed between the opposing bipolar electrodes, and this separator is impregnated with the electrolyte to form an electrolyte layer.

[0003] In such an energy storage module, gas such as hydrogen may be generated due to, for example, over-discharge during use, which may cause an increase in pressure in the internal space of the energy storage module. To avoid such an increase in pressure in the internal space, some conventional energy storage modules have a pressure regulating valve whose valve body opens the internal space when the pressure in the internal space increases to a predetermined pressure (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] International Publication No. 2019 / 064843

[0005] Conventional energy storage modules having a pressure adjustment valve such as that described above can prevent an increase in pressure in the internal space, but if foreign matter such as dust enters from the outside and gets caught in the valve, or if scratches occur on the valve body or the mating part with which the valve body comes into contact, the sealing performance of the pressure adjustment valve may be affected, which may in turn affect the sealing performance of the internal space of the energy storage module.

[0006] Thus, conventional pressure regulating valves are required to have a configuration that can prevent sealing performance from being affected by foreign matter getting caught in the valve body or scratches on the valve body or the mating parts with which the valve body comes into contact.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a pressure regulating valve that can prevent sealing performance from being affected by foreign matter getting caught in the valve body or by scratches on the valve body or the mating part with which the valve body comes into contact.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the pressure regulating valve of the present invention comprises a main body which is a member having a plurality of through holes, and a valve body which is a member which opens and closes each of the plurality of through holes, the main body being provided with a plurality of annular protrusions which surround the openings of the plurality of through holes, the protrusions protruding from the opening side and having an annular apex, the valve body having a contact surface which is a surface which comes into contact with the protrusions, the contact surface of the valve body coming into contact with the protrusions in an annular region having a width in the radial direction, the region of the contact surface which comes into contact with the protrusions including an apex region which is a region which comes into contact with the apex, an inner region which is a region which comes into contact with the apex on the inner side, and an outer region which is a region which comes into contact with the apex on the outer side, the protrusions being configured so that the radial width of the outer region is wider than the radial width of the inner region.

[0009] In the pressure regulating valve according to one aspect of the present invention, the surface pressure generated in the region of the contact surface that contacts the protrusion is higher in the inner region than in the outer region.

[0010] In a pressure regulating valve according to one aspect of the present invention, the apex of the protrusion is closer in the radial direction to the inner circumferential end, which is the end on the inner circumferential side of the protrusion, than to the outer circumferential end, which is the end on the outer circumferential side of the protrusion.

[0011] In a pressure regulating valve according to one embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion has an outer peripheral surface which is an annular surface and an inner peripheral surface which is an annular surface, the outer peripheral surface being a surface which extends between the apex and the outer peripheral end and which narrows in diameter from the outer peripheral end side towards the apex side, and the inner peripheral surface being a surface which extends between the apex and the inner peripheral end and which widens in diameter from the inner peripheral end side towards the apex side.

[0012] In the pressure regulating valve according to one aspect of the present invention, the angle of inclination of the outer circumferential surface toward the apex is smaller than the angle of inclination of the inner circumferential surface toward the apex.

[0013] A pressure regulating valve according to one aspect of the present invention further includes a lid body which is a member fixed to the main body, and when the lid body is fixed to the main body, it presses the valve body so that the valve body contacts the protrusion.

[0014] A pressure regulating valve according to one aspect of the present invention is used in an electricity storage module.

[0015] In a pressure regulating valve according to one aspect of the present invention, the storage module includes a plurality of stacked bipolar electrodes, each having an electrode plate, a positive electrode provided on one side of the electrode plate, and a negative electrode provided on the other side of the electrode plate, and the plurality of through holes are each connected to a plurality of internal spaces between adjacent bipolar electrodes in the stacked plurality of bipolar electrodes of the storage module.

[0016] The pressure regulating valve according to the present invention can prevent foreign matter from getting caught in the valve disc, and can prevent damage to the valve disc or the mating part with which the valve disc comes into contact from affecting sealing performance.

[0017] 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an electricity storage module to which a pressure regulating valve according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an electricity storage module to which a pressure regulating valve is attached. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a pressure regulating valve. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a pressure regulating valve. FIG. 11 is a front view of a housing in the pressure regulating valve. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view showing a valve body opposing portion surrounded by a valve body accommodating portion in the housing shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along line A-A in FIG. 6. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a valve body opposing portion surrounded by a valve body accommodating portion. FIG. 15 is an enlarged view showing one side relative to the axis of the cross section of the protrusion shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 17 is a rear view of a lid provided in the pressure regulating valve. FIG. 18 is a top view of the lid. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a valve body in a closed state closing a through-hole. FIG. 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a contact surface of the protrusion and the valve body in a closed state.

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an electricity storage module 2 to which a pressure regulating valve 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electricity storage module 2 to which the pressure regulating valve 1 is attached. The electricity storage module 2 is, for example, a bipolar battery. Note that the electricity storage module in which the pressure regulating valve according to the present invention is used is not limited to a bipolar battery. In this example, the electricity storage module 2 is described as a nickel-metal hydride secondary battery, but the type of the electricity storage module 2 is not limited to a nickel-metal hydride secondary battery and may be another secondary battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery. The electricity storage module 2 is also used in, for example, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc.

[0020] The energy storage module 2 has a plurality of bipolar electrodes 101, and in the energy storage module 2, the plurality of bipolar electrodes 101 are stacked so that adjacent bipolar electrodes 101 face each other to form a laminate. Each bipolar electrode 101 has a current collector 102, which is an electrode plate, a positive electrode 103 provided on one surface of the current collector 102, and a negative electrode 104 provided on the other surface of the current collector 102. A separator 105 is disposed between a pair of adjacent bipolar electrodes 101 facing each other, and a separator 105 is interposed between each pair of facing bipolar electrodes 101. The positive electrode 103 of one bipolar electrode 101 faces the negative electrode 104 of another bipolar electrode 101 that faces the first bipolar electrode 101 with a separator 105 sandwiched between them, and the negative electrode 104 of one bipolar electrode 101 faces the positive electrode 103 of the other bipolar electrode 101 that faces the first bipolar electrode 101 with a separator 105 sandwiched between them. At one end of the laminate where the positive electrodes 103 of the stacked bipolar electrodes 101 face outward, a current collector 102 is disposed, via a separator 105, as a negative electrode side terminal electrode, with a negative electrode 104 provided on its inner surface. At the other end of the laminate where the negative electrodes 104 of the stacked bipolar electrodes 101 face outward, a current collector 102 is disposed, via a separator 105, as a positive electrode side terminal electrode, with a positive electrode 103 provided on its inner surface.

[0021] An internal space V defined by a sealing member 106 is formed between a pair of opposing bipolar electrodes 101, and an electrolyte (not shown) is sealed in each internal space V. An internal space V defined by a sealing member 106 is formed between a current collector 102 serving as a terminal electrode on the negative side and the opposing bipolar electrode 101, and an electrolyte (not shown) is sealed in the internal space V. An internal space V defined by a sealing member 106 is also formed between a current collector 102 serving as a terminal electrode on the positive side and the opposing bipolar electrode 101, and an electrolyte 1 (not shown) is sealed in the internal space V. The internal space V is a space hermetically separated by the current collector 102 and the sealing member 106. The electrolyte is, for example, an alkaline solution such as an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution.

[0022] In this way, the electrodes stacked to form an internal space V between each of the opposing electrodes (bipolar electrode 101, collector 102 as the terminal electrode on the positive side, and collector 102 as the terminal electrode on the negative side) are supported by a frame 107 provided to cover the side of the sealing member 106.

[0023] The pressure regulating valve 1 is attached to each energy storage module 2 and is a pressure regulating valve that allows the internal space V of each energy storage module 2 to be opened. The pressure regulating valve 1 will be described below. Note that in the drawings, not all of the multiple components are assigned reference numerals, and the reference numerals of some of the multiple components may be omitted.

[0024] FIGS. 3 and 4 are exploded perspective views of the pressure regulating valve 1. FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the pressure regulating valve 1 as viewed from different directions. FIG. 5 is a front view of a portion of the pressure regulating valve 1. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 6. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the pressure regulating valve 1 includes a housing 10 as a main body having a plurality of through holes 11, and a valve body 20 as a member for opening and closing the plurality of through holes 11. The housing 10 is provided with a plurality of annular protrusions 30 that surround the openings 11a of the plurality of through holes 11, respectively. The protrusions 30 protrude from the side of the openings 11a and have annular apexes 31. The valve body 20 has a contact surface 21 that contacts the protrusions 30. The contact surface 21 of the valve body 20 contacts the protrusions 30 at a contact area S, which is an annular area having a width in the radial direction. The contact area S of the contact surface 21 that contacts the protrusion 30 includes an apex area S1 that contacts the apex 31, an inner area S2 that contacts the apex 31 on the inner circumferential side, and an outer area S3 that contacts the apex 31 on the outer circumferential side. The protrusion 30 is configured such that the radial width w1 of the outer area S3 is greater than the radial width w2 of the inner area S2. Note that FIG. 5 illustrates the housing 10, and FIG. 6 illustrates the vicinity of the protrusion 30. The configuration of the pressure regulating valve 1 will be described in detail below. For ease of explanation, the stacking direction of the bipolar electrodes 101 in the energy storage module 2 is referred to as the up-down direction. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the axis x that is the central axis of the through-hole 11 is referred to as the radial direction, with the inner side in the radial direction being the inner circumferential side and the outer side in the radial direction being the outer circumferential side.

[0025] Specifically, the pressure regulating valve 1 includes a cover 40 in addition to the above-described housing 10 and valve element 20. The cover 40 is a member fixed to the housing 10, and when fixed to the housing 10, it presses the valve element 20 so that the valve element 20 comes into contact with the protrusion 30. The housing 10 is attached to the energy storage module 2 as shown in FIG. 2 .

[0026] 3 to 5 , the housing 10 has an opening 12, which is a space that is open to the outside of the housing 10. The number of through holes 11 provided in the housing 10 corresponds to the number of internal spaces V of the power storage modules 2, and each of the multiple through holes 11 connects the corresponding internal space V of the power storage module 2 to the opening 12. The lid 40 is fixed to the housing 10 by closing one open end (opening 12 a) of the opening 12. When the lid 40 is fixed to the housing 10, the lid 40 presses the multiple valve bodies 20, which causes the multiple valve bodies 20 to close the openings 11 a of the multiple through holes 11.

[0027] The opening 12 of the housing 10 forms a recess as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 , and the housing 10 has a box-like outer shape, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 . The housing 10 has, for example, an upper wall portion 13, a lower wall portion 14, and side walls 15 and 16, which form the opening 12. The upper wall portion 13 and the lower wall portion 14 face each other in the vertical direction, and the side walls 15 and 16 extend between the ends of the upper wall portion 13 and the lower wall portion 14, respectively. The upper wall portion 13, the lower wall portion 14, and the side walls 15 and 16 define the opening 12. As shown in FIG. 5 , the shape of the opening 12 in a front view is, for example, rectangular or approximately rectangular, and the direction in which the side walls 15 and 16 face each other is the longitudinal direction of the housing 10, and the direction in which the upper wall portion 13 and the lower wall portion 14 face each other is the lateral direction of the housing 10.

[0028] 3 to 5, the housing 10 has a bottom wall portion 17 that closes the end of the opening 12 opposite the opening 12a. The bottom wall portion 17 is connected to the ends of the upper wall portion 13, the lower wall portion 14, and the side wall portions 15 and 16 opposite the opening 12a of the opening 12. Therefore, the bottom wall portion 17 has a bottom surface 17a that faces the open portion 12. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the bottom wall portion 17 has a back surface 17b that faces away from the bottom surface 17a. The plurality of through holes 11 and the plurality of protrusions 30 are formed in the bottom wall portion 17.

[0029] 4 to 7 , the opening 11a of the through hole 11 is located on the bottom surface 17a of the bottom wall portion 17, and the other opening 11b of the through hole 11 is located on the back surface 17b of the bottom wall portion 17, with the through hole 11 penetrating between the bottom surface 17a and the back surface 17b of the bottom wall portion 17. The pressure regulating valve 1 is attached to the energy storage module 2 at the back surface 17b of the bottom wall portion 17. The back surface 17b of the bottom wall portion 17 is configured so that the through hole 11 can airtightly communicate with each of the multiple openings that open the internal space V of the energy storage module 2 to the outside. The back surface 17b of the bottom wall portion 17 of the pressure regulating valve 1 is bonded to the energy storage module 2, for example. The back surface 17b of the bottom wall portion 17 is bonded to the frame 107 of the energy storage module 2, for example, by welding.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 , the housing 10 is formed with a plurality of valve element accommodating portions 18, which form a space for accommodating the valve element 20. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 , the valve element accommodating portions 18 are cylindrical portions that protrude from the bottom surface 17a of the bottom wall portion 17 toward the opening 12a of the opening 12. Specifically, the shape of the valve element accommodating portions 18 is, for example, cylindrical or approximately cylindrical. The plurality of valve element accommodating portions 18 are provided corresponding to the plurality of through holes 11, respectively. Each through hole 11 communicates with the space formed by the valve element accommodating portion 18 at its opening 11a. In other words, the opening 11a of each through hole 11 is located in a valve element opposing portion 19, which is a portion of the bottom surface 17a located on the inner periphery of the corresponding valve element accommodating portion 18. The valve element opposing portion 19, surrounded by the valve element accommodating portions 18, is the portion where the valve element 20 accommodated in the valve element accommodating portion 18 is pressed by the cover 40, as described below. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the plurality of valve body accommodating portions 18 are arranged in a manner that allows space within the opening 12 to be saved.

[0031] 6 and 8 are diagrams schematically illustrating the valve element facing portion 19 surrounded by the valve element accommodating portion 18, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram schematically illustrating a portion of the cross section taken along line A-A in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a front view of the valve element facing surface 19, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the valve element facing surface 19. FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of the valve element facing surface 19. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the valve element facing portion 19 has a valve element facing surface 22 that is part of the bottom surface 17a of the bottom wall portion 17. The valve element facing surface 22 extends, for example, on a plane or approximately plane. The through hole 11 is defined, for example, by a cylindrical surface or approximately cylindrical surface whose central axis or approximately central axis is an axis x that is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the valve element facing surface 22, and the opening 11a of the through hole 11 is formed in the valve element facing surface 22.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 , a groove 23 is formed in the valve element facing surface 22 so as to surround the opening 11a. The groove 23 is recessed from the valve element facing surface 22 toward the back surface 17b of the bottom wall portion 17 and connects to a portion of the through hole 11 on the inner circumferential side. In the illustrated example, the groove 23 has a groove portion 23a that extends radially and a groove portion 23b that is an annular groove that connects to the outer circumferential end of groove portion 23a. Note that the shape of the groove 23 formed in the valve element facing portion 22 is not limited to the illustrated shape and may be other shapes. Furthermore, the groove 23 does not have to be formed in the valve element facing portion 19. The groove 23 allows the opening area of ​​the through hole 11 in the valve element facing surface 22 to be larger than the opening area of ​​the opening 11a of the through hole 11. The groove 23 also allows the opening area of ​​the through hole 11 in the valve element facing surface 22 to be adjusted. This allows the operating pressure of the valve element 20, described below, to be set to a desired pressure.

[0033] 6 to 8, the protrusion 30 is an annular protrusion formed on the valve body facing surface 22 around the axis x of the through hole 11, and protrudes from the valve body facing surface 22 toward the opening 12a of the opening 12. The protrusion 30 is formed to surround the opening 11a of the through hole 11 and the groove 23. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the protrusion 30 extends along a circle or an approximate circle whose center or approximate center is the axis x of the through hole 11. The shape of the protrusion 30 in a front view is not limited to a circle, and may be another shape. As will be described later, the protrusion 30 is a bead that contacts the contact surface 21 of the valve body 20 and seals the gap between the valve body 20 and the valve body facing portion 19.

[0034] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of one side of the cross section of the protrusion 30 shown in FIG. 7 with respect to the axis x. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 , the protrusion 30 has a crest 31, an outer peripheral end 32, which is the end on the outer periphery, and an inner peripheral end 33, which is the end on the inner periphery. The crest 31 is a peak extending around the entire circumference of the protrusion 30 and is the annular portion of the protrusion 30 on the opening 12a side, which is the farthest from the valve body facing surface 22 toward the opening 12a. For example, the height of the crest 31 is constant or approximately constant around the entire circumference. Note that the height of the crest 31 is the distance between the valve body facing surface 22 and the crest 31 in the direction of the axis x. The outer peripheral end 32 is the end of the protrusion 30 on the valve body facing surface 22 side and extends annularly. Similarly, the inner peripheral end 33 is the end of the protrusion 30 on the valve body facing surface 22 side and extends annularly. The protrusion 30 is connected at its outer peripheral end 32 to the valve body-facing surface 22, and at its inner peripheral end 33 to an outer edge 23c of the annular groove portion 23b of the groove 23 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The outer edge 23c of the groove portion 23b is the outer peripheral and upper edge of the groove portion 23b. The outer peripheral end 32 and the inner peripheral end 33 extend, for example, along a circle or an approximate circle whose center or approximate center is the axis x.

[0035] The protrusion 30 may be connected to the valve body facing surface 22 at its inner circumferential end 33. In this case, the inner circumferential end 33 of the protrusion 30 is located at a position away from the groove 23b toward the outer circumferential side. The outer circumferential end 32 of the protrusion 30 may be connected to the valve body accommodating portion 18. In other words, the outer circumferential end 32 of the protrusion 30 may be connected to the inner edge 18a (see FIG. 7 ), which is the edge on the inner circumferential side and lower side of the valve body accommodating portion 18.

[0036] 6 to 9, the protrusion 30 has an outer peripheral surface 34, which is an annular surface, and an inner peripheral surface 35, which is also an annular surface. The outer peripheral surface 34 is a surface that extends between the apex 31 and the outer peripheral end 32. As shown in FIG. 9, for example, the outer peripheral surface 34 decreases in diameter from the outer peripheral end 32 toward the apex 31. The inner peripheral surface 35 is a surface that extends between the apex 31 and the inner peripheral end 33. As shown in FIG. 9, for example, the inner peripheral surface 35 increases in diameter from the inner peripheral end 33 toward the apex 31. In FIG. 9, r1 indicates the diameter, which is the distance from the axis x of the outer peripheral surface 34, and r2 indicates the diameter of the inner peripheral surface 35.

[0037] As described above, the protrusion 30 is configured so that the radial width of the outer region S3 of the contact area S of the contact surface 21 of the valve body 20 that contacts the protrusion 30 and is located on the outer periphery side of the apex 30 is wider than the radial width of the inner region S2 of the contact area S of the contact surface 21 that is located on the inner periphery side of the apex 30. Specifically, for example, as shown in Fig. 6, the apex 31 of the protrusion 30 is closer to the inner circumferential end 33 of the protrusion 30 in the radial direction than the outer circumferential end 32 of the protrusion 30. In other words, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9, the radial width w1 between the apex 31 and the outer circumferential end 32 is greater than the radial width w2 between the apex 31 and the inner circumferential end 33.

[0038] In this way, in the protrusion 30, the radial width w1 between the top 31 and the outer peripheral end 32 is larger than the radial width w2 between the top 31 and the inner peripheral end 33.Therefore, when the contact surface 21 of the valve body 20 contacts the protrusion 30, the radial width of the outer region S3 in the contact area S is wider than the radial width of the inner region S2.

[0039] Furthermore, the protrusions 30 are formed so that the surface pressure generated in the contact region S of the contact surface 21 is higher in the inner region S2 than in the outer region S3. Specifically, for example, in the protrusions 30, the radial width between the apex 31 and the outer peripheral end 32 is larger than the radial width between the apex 31 and the inner peripheral end 33, and the outer peripheral surface 34 decreases in diameter from the outer peripheral end 32 toward the apex, while the inner peripheral surface 34 increases in diameter from the inner peripheral end 33 toward the apex 31.

[0040] As described above, in the protrusion 30, the radial width w1 between the apex 31 and the outer peripheral end 32 is larger than the radial width w2 between the apex 31 and the inner peripheral end 33. The outer peripheral surface 34 narrows in diameter from the outer peripheral end 32 toward the apex 31, while the inner peripheral surface 34 widens in diameter from the inner peripheral end 33 toward the apex 31. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9 , the inclination angle α1 of the outer peripheral surface 34 toward the apex 31 is smaller than the inclination angle α2 of the inner peripheral surface 35 toward the apex 31. The inclination angle α1 is the angle between a plane perpendicular to the axis x along which the valve-body-facing surface 22 extends and a tangent at each position on the outer peripheral surface 34. The inclination angle α2 is the angle between a plane perpendicular to the axis x and a tangent at each position on the inner peripheral surface 35. Therefore, the surface pressure generated in the contact region S of the contact surface 21 is higher in the inner region S2 than in the outer region S3.

[0041] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9 , the outer peripheral surface 34 of the protrusion 30 has a tapered surface, and has a conical or approximately conical surface with the axis x as the central axis or approximately the central axis. The outer peripheral surface 34 may have a tapered surface in part, or may be tapered entirely. However, the vicinity of the apex 31 is a smoothly curved surface. For example, when the outer peripheral surface 34 smoothly connects to the valve-disk-facing surface 22, the vicinity of the outer peripheral end 32 of the outer peripheral surface 34 is a curved surface that is concave toward the inner peripheral side, and a portion of the outer peripheral surface 34 is a tapered surface. Similarly, when the inner peripheral surface 35 smoothly connects to the valve-disk-facing surface 22, the vicinity of the inner peripheral end 33 of the inner peripheral surface 35 is a curved surface that is concave toward the inner peripheral side, and a portion of the inner peripheral surface 35 is a tapered surface.

[0042] The shapes of the outer peripheral surface 34 and the inner peripheral surface 35 of the protrusion 30 are not limited to those having tapered surfaces as described above. As long as the shape of the protrusion 30 has the above-described effect, the shapes of the outer peripheral surface 34 and the inner peripheral surface 35 may be other shapes. For example, the outer peripheral surface 34 may have a shape that describes an upwardly convex curve in a cross section taken along a plane including the axis x. Similarly, for example, the inner peripheral surface 35 may have a shape that describes an upwardly convex curve in a cross section taken along a plane including the axis x.

[0043] The housing 10 has the above-described configuration and is integrally formed from the same material. That is, the upper wall portion 13, the lower wall portion 14, the side wall portions 15 and 16, the bottom wall portion 17, and the valve body accommodating portion 18 are each parts of the housing 10 that are integrally formed from the same material and are connected together.

[0044] The valve element 20 is an elastic body made of an elastic material such as rubber. The valve element 20 is shaped so that it can be accommodated in the valve element accommodating portion 18, and so that the contact surface 21 comes into contact with a protrusion 30 formed on the valve element facing surface 22 within the valve element accommodating portion 18, thereby closing the through-hole 11. The valve element 20 has a columnar shape, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . Specifically, the valve element 20 has a cylindrical or approximately cylindrical shape, with one end surface serving as the contact surface 21. The shape of the valve element 20 is not limited to a cylindrical or approximately cylindrical shape, and may be other shapes, and may be a shape that corresponds to the shape of the valve element accommodating portion 18, etc.

[0045] 10 is a rear view of the lid 40, and FIG. 11 is a top view of the lid 40. As described above, the lid 40 is attached to the opening 12 of the housing 10 and is a member that closes the opening 12 a of the opening 12 of the housing 10 and acts on the valve body 20 to seal the internal space V of the energy storage module 2. Specifically, the lid 40 is attached to the housing 10 so as to cover the opening 12 a of the housing 10, and presses the valve body 20 in the valve body accommodating portion 18 toward the valve body facing surface 22, and presses the contact surface 21 of the valve body 20 against the protrusion 30 to close the opening 11 a and the groove 23 of the through hole 11, thereby closing the through hole 11. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , for example, the lid 40 is a plate-shaped member extending along a plane and has a front surface 41 that faces the front side and a back surface 42 that faces the back side.

[0046] 4, 10, and 11, the back surface 42 of the cover 40 is provided with protrusions 43 that protrude toward the bottom wall 17, the number of which corresponds to the number of valve body accommodating sections 18. Each of the protrusions 43 is positioned so as to enter the corresponding valve body accommodating section 18 when the cover 40 is attached to the housing 10.

[0047] In the pressure regulating valve 1, each protrusion 43 of the lid body 40 presses the valve body 20 toward the bottom wall portion 17 inside the corresponding valve body accommodating portion 18, pressing the contact surface 21 of the valve body 20 against the protrusion 30. As a result, each valve body 20 closes the corresponding through hole 11 and groove 23, blocking the corresponding through hole 11 and sealing the internal space V of the corresponding energy storage module 2. Meanwhile, the pressure in the internal space V of the energy storage module 2 acts on the valve body 20 through the through hole 11, applying a force pressing the valve body 20 toward the lid body 40. When the pressure in the internal space V of the energy storage module 2 increases and exceeds a predetermined pressure (operating pressure), the force pressing the valve body 20 toward the lid body 40 exceeds the force pressing the contact surface 21 of the valve body 20 against the protrusion 30, causing the contact surface 21 of the valve body 20 to separate from the protrusion 30, opening the through hole 11 and connecting the through hole 11 to the opening 11. As a result, the internal space V of the energy storage module 2, whose pressure has exceeded a predetermined value, is opened via the corresponding through-hole 11, thereby releasing the pressure in this internal space V. On the other hand, when the pressure in the internal space V falls below the predetermined value due to this pressure release, the contact surface 21 of the valve body 20 is pressed against the protrusion 30 again, the through-hole 11 is closed, and the internal space V of the energy storage module 2 is sealed again. In this way, the internal space V of the energy storage module 2 is prevented from becoming excessively high in pressure.

[0048] Next, the function of the protrusion 30 formed on the valve body facing portion 19 will be described. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the valve body 20 in a state in which the through hole 11 is closed (hereinafter also referred to as the closed state), and Fig. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the protrusion 30 and the contact surface 21 of the valve body 20 in the closed state. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, in the closed state, the apex 31, outer peripheral surface 34, and inner peripheral surface 35 of the protrusion 30 are in contact with the contact surface 21 of the valve body 20. As described above, the protrusion 30 is in contact with the contact area S of the contact surface 21. The portion of the outer peripheral surface 34 of the protrusion 30 that contacts the contact surface 21 is the portion on the apex 31 side from a position away from the outer peripheral end 32 of the protrusion 30, and the outer peripheral surface 34 is in contact with an outer region S3 of the contact area S of the contact surface 21. Furthermore, the portion of the inner surface 35 of the protrusion 30 that contacts the contact surface 21 is the portion toward the top 31 from a position away from the inner end 33 of the protrusion 30, and the inner surface 35 contacts the inner area S2 of the contact area S of the contact surface 21.

[0049] As described above, in the protrusion 30, the radial width between the apex 31 and the outer peripheral end 32 is greater than the radial width between the apex 31 and the inner peripheral end 33. That is, in the radial direction, the width of the outer peripheral surface 34 is greater than the width of the inner peripheral surface 35. Therefore, in the contact surface S, the radial width of the outer region S3 is greater than the radial width of the inner region S2. Therefore, even if foreign matter such as dust that has entered from the outside becomes caught between the protrusion 30 and the contact surface 21, or even if a scratch is formed in the contact region S of the contact surface 21 or in the protrusion 30, the outer region S3 in contact with the outer peripheral surface 34 of the protrusion 30 is wide, making it difficult for a gap formed by the foreign matter or scratch to penetrate the contact region S, and thus the penetration of the gap formed by the foreign matter or scratch through the contact region S is suppressed. In this way, the sealing performance between the contact surface 21 of the valve body 20 and the protrusion 30 is prevented from being affected by foreign matter getting caught or scratches on the contact surface 21 or the protrusion 30.

[0050] Furthermore, if the outer peripheral surface 34 and inner peripheral surface 35 of the protrusion 30 include tapered surfaces, or if the outer peripheral surface 34 and inner peripheral surface 35 of the protrusion 31 are curved surfaces that form an upwardly convex curve in cross section, the outer peripheral surface 34 and inner peripheral surface 35 of the protrusion 31 are pressed against the contact surface 21, making it possible to make closer contact between the outer peripheral surface 34 and inner peripheral surface 35 of the protrusion 31 and the contact surface 21 over the entire contact area S. This makes it possible to improve the sealing performance between the protrusion 31 and the contact surface 21.

[0051] Furthermore, the inclination angle α1 of the outer peripheral surface 34 of the protrusion 30 is smaller than the inclination angle α2 of the inner peripheral surface 35 of the protrusion 30, and the outer peripheral surface 34 is more gently inclined relative to the valve body-facing surface 22 than the inner peripheral surface 35. Therefore, the surface pressure generated in the contact area S of the contact surface 21 is higher in the inner area S2 than in the outer area S3. Therefore, in the contact between the valve body 20 and the protrusion 30, the contact in the inner area S2 mainly functions to close the through hole 11. Therefore, by setting the surface pressure generated in the inner area S2 to a desired value, the operating pressure, which is the pressure at which the valve body 20 receives pressure from the internal space V of the energy storage module 2 and opens the through hole 11, can be set to a desired value. The inner area S2 and the inner peripheral surface 35, which mainly close the through hole 11, are adjacent to the through hole 11. Therefore, in the initial stage when the contact surface 21 of the valve body 20 separates from the protrusion 30, the inner area S2 and the inner peripheral surface 35 are directly subjected to the pressure from the internal space V of the energy storage module 2. Therefore, the operating pressure of the valve element 20 can be set based on the pressure in the internal space V of the energy storage module 2, and the operating pressure of the valve element 20 can be set more accurately.

[0052] In this way, the pressure regulating valve 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can prevent the sealing performance of the internal space V of the energy storage module 2 from being affected by foreign matter getting caught in the valve body 20 or scratches on the valve body 20 or the protrusion 30.

[0053] Although the present invention has been described above through the above embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0054] The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention, and the present invention may include any and all applications. The components of the above-described embodiments, as well as their arrangement, materials, conditions, shape, size, etc., are not limited to those illustrated and may be modified as appropriate. For example, the present invention includes differences that arise during implementation due to manufacturing tolerances, etc. Furthermore, components illustrated in different embodiments may be partially substituted or combined within the scope of technical inconsistency. Furthermore, the various configurations may be selectively combined as appropriate to achieve at least some of the above-described problems and effects.

[0055] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Pressure regulating valve, 2 Energy storage module, 10 Housing (main body), 11 Through hole, 11a, 11b Opening, 12 Opening, 12a Opening, 13 Upper wall portion, 14 Lower wall portion, 15, 16 Side wall portion, 17 Bottom wall portion, 17a Bottom surface, 17b Back surface, 18 Valve body accommodating portion, 18a Inner edge, 19 Valve body opposing portion, 20 Valve body, 21 Contact surface, 22 Valve body opposing surface, 23 Groove, 23a, 23b Groove portion, 23c Outer edge, 30 Protrusion portion, 31 Top portion, 32 Outer peripheral edge, 33 Inner peripheral edge, 34 Outer peripheral surface, 35 Inner peripheral surface, 40 Lid, 41 Front surface, 42 Back surface, 43 Protrusion, 101 bipolar electrode, 102 current collector, 103 positive electrode, 104 negative electrode, 105 separator, 106 sealing member, 107 frame, r1, r2 diameter, S contact area, S1 top area, S2 inner area, S3 outer area, V internal space, x axis, w1, w2 width, α1, α2 tilt angle

Claims

1. A pressure regulating valve comprising: a main body which is a member having a plurality of through holes; and a valve body which is a member that opens and closes each of the plurality of through holes, wherein the main body is provided with a plurality of annular protrusions surrounding the openings of the plurality of through holes, wherein the protrusions protrude from the opening side and have annular apexes, wherein the valve body has a contact surface which is a surface that comes into contact with the protrusions, wherein the contact surface of the valve body comes into contact with the protrusions in an annular region having a width in the radial direction, wherein the region of the contact surface that comes into contact with the protrusions includes an apex region which is a region that comes into contact with the apex, an inner region which is a region that comes into contact with the apex on the inner side, and an outer region which is a region that comes into contact with the apex on the outer side, wherein the radial width of the outer region is wider than the radial width of the inner region.

2. The pressure regulating valve according to claim 2, wherein the surface pressure generated in the region of the contact surface that contacts the protrusion is higher in the inner region than in the outer region.

3. A pressure regulating valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein the apex of the protrusion is closer in the radial direction to the inner circumferential end, which is the end on the inner circumferential side of the protrusion, than to the outer circumferential end, which is the end on the outer circumferential side of the protrusion.

4. A pressure regulating valve as described in claim 3, wherein the protrusion has an outer peripheral surface which is an annular surface and an inner peripheral surface which is an annular surface, the outer peripheral surface is a surface which extends between the top and the outer peripheral end and which decreases in diameter from the outer peripheral end side towards the top side, and the inner peripheral surface is a surface which extends between the top and the inner peripheral end and which increases in diameter from the inner peripheral end side towards the top side.

5. The pressure regulating valve according to claim 4, wherein the angle of inclination of the outer peripheral surface toward the apex is smaller than the angle of inclination of the inner peripheral surface toward the apex.

6. The pressure regulating valve according to claim 1, further comprising a lid that is a member fixed to the main body, and when the lid is fixed to the main body, it presses the valve body so that the valve body contacts the protrusion.

7. The pressure regulating valve according to claim 1, which is used in an electricity storage module.

8. The pressure regulating valve according to claim 7, wherein the storage module comprises a plurality of stacked bipolar electrodes, each having an electrode plate, a positive electrode provided on one side of the electrode plate, and a negative electrode provided on the other side of the electrode plate, and the plurality of through holes communicate with a plurality of internal spaces between adjacent bipolar electrodes in the plurality of stacked bipolar electrodes of the storage module, respectively.

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