Battery Pack Exhaust Layout for Water Ingress Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs, such as those described in JP 2017-022050 A, face issues with water ingress due to the balance between internal pressure and the elastic force of a coil spring, which can lead to incomplete water absorption by porous materials, potentially allowing water to enter the battery case.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a housing with an exhaust portion positioned on the upper side, including a storage portion for liquids, a first communication portion between the housing and exhaust interior, and a second communication portion between the exterior and interior, where the second communication portion's opening overlaps the storage portion when viewed from the top, preventing liquid entry while allowing gas discharge through a third communication portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water absorbing material is provided in the communication passage to absorb water, then water absorption capability is improved, but when internal pressure and elastic force are balanced, the communication passage opens over a long period causing incomplete water absorption and potential water entry into the battery case
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust portion is segmented into distinct functional zones: a storage portion for liquid collection, a first communication portion for gas passage, and a second communication portion for external discharge. This segmentation allows liquid and gas to be handled separately, preventing water from entering the battery case while maintaining effective water absorption capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust portion acts as an intermediary chamber between the battery interior and external environment. It includes a storage portion that intercepts and holds liquid before it can reach the battery case, while allowing gas to pass through via the communication portions. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by providing a buffer zone that prevents harmful liquid entry.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the second communication portion opening overlaps the storage portion to prevent liquid entry, then liquid protection is improved, but gas discharge efficiency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the exhaust portion have different functional qualities: the storage portion is positioned to intercept liquid using gravity, the first communication portion provides a dedicated gas passage route, and the second communication portion is strategically positioned to discharge gas externally. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of liquid protection and gas discharge efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions: the exhaust portion is positioned above the battery housing in the vertical dimension, the storage portion is configured to receive liquid from above, and the communication portions are arranged to allow gas flow while preventing liquid ingress. This multi-dimensional spatial design resolves the contradiction between liquid protection and gas discharge.
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
This design effectively suppresses liquid entry into the battery pack's housing while enabling efficient gas discharge, ensuring the integrity of the live electrical part by positioning the exhaust components to prevent liquid movement into the battery pack.
Implementation Method 1
an exhaust portion (48) provided on an upper side in a gravity direction with respect to the housing portion (32)
Implementation Method 2
a first communication portion (52) that communicates between an interior of the housing portion (32) and an interior of the exhaust portion (48)
Data Source
AI summary
In a battery pack, a housing includes an exhaust portion provided on an upper side in a gravity direction with respect to a housing portion that houses a live part. The exhaust portion includes: a storage portion configured to store a liquid; a first communication portion that communicates between an interior of the housing portion and an interior of the exhaust portion; and a second communication portion that communicates between an outside of a housing and an inside of the exhaust portion. When the battery pack is viewed from the upper side in the gravity direction, an opening of the second communication portion on an inner side of the exhaust portion is provided at a position that overlaps the storage portion and that does not overlap an opening of the first communication portion on the inner side of the exhaust portion.