Battery Gas Release Valve with Elastic Sealing Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas release valves for battery cells suffer from uncontrollable leakage of liquid and hydrogen gas due to complex constructions and loss of elastic sealing properties, allowing outside air to enter the cell and failing to degas at precise internal pressure levels.
Innovation Solution
A simple gas release valve design featuring a preloaded non-return elastic sealing element, such as an O-ring or annular collar, that maintains contact with a housing seat under increasing pressure, ensuring reliable sealing and controlled degassing at predetermined pressure levels, with adjustable responsiveness and protection from aggressive liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex construction with resilient skirt is used for gas release valve, then sealing capability is improved, but device complexity increases and sealing reliability deteriorates over time due to loss of elastic properties
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealing function from a complex resilient skirt mechanism and implements it through a simple elastic sealing element (O-ring or annular collar) that interfaces with a T-shaped seat. This eliminates the need for complex valve bodies with multiple vents and ridges, reducing device complexity while maintaining sealing reliability through the inherent elastic properties of the simplified sealing element.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by designing a T-shaped seat with specific geometric features (first and second perpendicular surfaces) that concentrate the sealing function at a localized interface between the elastic sealing element and the housing. This localized sealing interface simplifies the overall construction while ensuring reliable sealing through precise local geometry rather than complex distributed structures.
2Reliability
If a resilient skirt sealing element is used, then initial sealing is achieved, but sealing durability deteriorates due to loss of elastic properties over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a simple elastic sealing element (O-ring or annular collar) that can be easily replaced if needed, rather than a complex resilient skirt that degrades over time. The simple sealing element maintains its elastic properties longer and can be swapped out as a maintenance item, improving overall sealing durability while reducing the complexity of the sealing mechanism.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise degassing pressure control is required, then manufacturing precision must be increased, but this increases device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves precise degassing pressure control through parameter changes in the T-shaped seat geometry (dimensions of the first and second perpendicular surfaces) and the elastic properties of the sealing element, rather than through complex mechanical adjustments. By varying these parameters during manufacturing, precise pressure control is achieved without increasing device complexity.
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
The solution provides a safe and reliable gas release mechanism that prevents outside air from entering the battery cell while allowing controlled degassing at precise internal pressure levels, maintaining effective sealing and responsiveness with minimal component parts.
Implementation Method 1
said elastic sealing element is a preloaded non-return element the inner surface of which is urged into sealing contact with a seat provided in said housing by its own elasticity
Implementation Method 2
An increasing outer pressure acting through said vents against the outer surface of said sealing element also maintains contact with the seat in the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A gas release valve to be mounted in an access port of a battery cell includes a housing, the upper side of which is closed by a lid. The lower side of the lid has an opening leading into the battery cell and is in communication, via degassing passageways closed by an elastic sealing element, with at least one vent provided in the lid. The elastic sealing element is a preloaded non-return element, the inner surface of which is urged into sealing contact with a seat provided in the housing by it s own elasticity and, in addition, by a pressure differential with the outer pressure that acts through the vent against the outer surface of the sealing element.