Explosion-Protected Battery Housing With Recessed Pressure Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial trucks used in explosive areas face challenges with lead-acid battery power supplies, which have insufficient capacity for multi-shift operations, require multiple batteries, and necessitate separate charging rooms due to safety concerns, increasing handling effort and costs.

Innovation Solution

A battery power supply with a housing design featuring a recessed wall adjacent to the floor in the battery tray, which reduces explosion pressure through controlled pressure release, preventing uncontrolled bursting and maintaining explosion protection, and uses lithium iron phosphate cells for enhanced capacity and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lead-acid batteries are used in industrial trucks for explosive areas, then explosion protection is maintained, but the battery capacity is insufficient for multi-shift operation requiring multiple batteries and separate charging rooms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexplosion protectionVSAvoidbattery operation duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the battery electrolyte by using a water-based electrolyte with specific additives instead of traditional lead-acid electrolyte, enabling lithium iron phosphate cells to operate safely in explosive atmospheres while providing sufficient capacity for multi-shift operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structure by combining lithium iron phosphate cathode material with water-based electrolyte and specific additives, creating a battery system that achieves both high capacity and explosion protection certification for industrial truck application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If multiple lead-acid batteries are provided for multi-shift operation, then sufficient power supply is ensured, but handling effort and operational costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-shift operation capabilityVSAvoidhandling effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the battery chemistry parameters to use lithium iron phosphate cells with water-based electrolyte, achieving higher energy density and capacity in a single battery unit, thereby eliminating the need for multiple batteries and reducing handling effort while maintaining multi-shift operation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If lead-acid batteries are charged in separate rooms with fresh air supply and extraction systems, then safety is ensured, but operating costs and handling effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging safetyVSAvoidcharging infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrolyte composition to a water-based formulation that does not generate hazardous acid vapors during charging, allowing batteries to be charged in the same explosive-protected environment without requiring separate charging rooms or complex extraction systems, thereby reducing infrastructure complexity while maintaining safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful acid vapor generation characteristic of traditional lead-acid batteries by using water-based electrolyte with specific additives, removing the need for separate charging infrastructure and extraction systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 allows for single-day shift operation without recharging, reduces handling effort, and maintains explosion protection by controlling pressure release, preventing uncontrolled bursting and oxygen ingress, thus enhancing safety and reducing operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

at least one wall in a region adjacent to the base has a recess which extends through the wall to the interior... reduces explosion pressure through controlled pressure release

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure release: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentEP3740978B1Battery power supply for an industrial truck which is used in a region in which there is a risk of explosion
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 STOCKLIN LOGISTIK
  • EP3740978B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3740978B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3740978B1 patent drawingFigure 5~5A

AI summary

The invention provides a battery power supply (1) for an industrial truck (8) which is used in a region in which there is a risk of explosion, comprising a housing (2) which has a housing body (47) and a cover (4), wherein the housing body (47) has an accommodation space (48) for accommodating a battery box (3) which has an interior space (20) with a traction battery (25) arranged therein, and the cover (4) can be detachably fixed to the housing body (47) using securing means (53) and the battery box (3) has a battery box cover (49) and a base (26) with walls (17, 18) which extend away from the base (26), wherein at least one wall (17, 18), in a region which is adjacent to the base (26), has a recess (19) which passes through the wall (17, 18) as far as the interior space (20).