Battery Pack Drain Valve Structure for Unblocked Swelling Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain valves for power battery packs suffer from inappropriate structural arrangements of liquid-swellable materials, leading to deformation and compromised draining functions due to uncontrolled swelling, which can result in equipment corrosion and leakage.
Innovation Solution
A drain valve design featuring guide plates and a liquid-swellable body positioned to prevent swelling from obstructing the draining passage, utilizing sodium polyacrylate/polyethylene terephthalate or sodium polyacrylate/polytetrafluoroethylene composite fibers, with guide grooves and a sealing mechanism to maintain unblocked drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid-swellable material is used to realize draining function, then the draining function is achieved, but the liquid-swellable material swells in all directions after absorbing liquid, leading to deformation of guide grooves and compromising the draining effect
Solution Approach 1:
The valve cover is segmented into multiple guide plates arranged at intervals, creating separate swelling spaces for the liquid-swellable body. This segmentation prevents the liquid-swellable body from deforming guide grooves by confining its swelling within defined spaces, while still enabling the draining function through the形成的 draining passage between guide plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different local spaces with different functions: swelling spaces where the liquid-swellable body is confined to absorb liquid without deforming guide grooves, and draining passages between guide plates where liquid can flow freely. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing the liquid-swellable body to swell locally without affecting the overall draining function.
2Device complexity
If the liquid-swellable material structure is simplified, then the device complexity is reduced, but the position of the liquid-swellable material changes after drying, affecting the swelling space and draining passage design
Solution Approach 1:
The valve cover is divided into multiple guide plates that create distinct swelling spaces and draining passages. This segmentation provides fixed boundaries for the liquid-swellable body, ensuring it returns to its original position after drying, while maintaining a relatively simple overall valve structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plates are pre-arranged on the valve cover to define both swelling spaces and draining passages before the liquid-swellable body is installed. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the liquid-swellable body dries and changes position, it remains confined within the pre-defined swelling space, preventing displacement issues and maintaining reliable draining passage positioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures stable and reliable draining by limiting swelling's impact on the passage, preventing corrosion and leakage, and maintaining a sealed environment for the battery pack.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid-swellable body is inlaid in a space defined by inner sides of the guide plates... liquid entering the valve body via the liquid inlet flows to the liquid-swellable body via gaps between the guide plates, and the liquid-swellable body swells
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a drain valve for a power battery pack.. Gaps are formed between outer sides of the guide plates and the valve body, and guide grooves are formed in the outer sides of the guide plates. Liquid entering the valve body via the liquid inlet flows to the liquid-swellable body via gaps between the guide plates, and the liquid-swellable body swells to jack up the valve cover, such that the guide grooves are connected to an opening between the valve cover and the valve body to form a draining passage. The drain valve for a power battery pack optimizes the position of the draining passage and the swelling space of the liquid-swellable body to ensure that the space of the draining passages will not be affected by the liquid-swellable body in a swelling state, thus guaranteeing a normal draining function.