Battery Vent Cap Assembly for Controlled Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy batteries for micromobility vehicles are sealed, leading to potential damage and rupture due to internal gas buildup from events like thermal failures, which can harm vehicle components.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation assembly with a vent cap and breather plug that releases under pressure to safely vent internal gases, including a membrane for airflow and a snap fitting that disconnects to allow controlled gas release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the battery is sealed to prevent gas leakage, then the battery structure integrity is maintained, but internal pressure builds up causing battery rupture and damage to vehicle components
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed battery housing is segmented into functional zones: a vent cap assembly with breather plug for pressure relief, and a sealed housing for battery cells. This segmentation allows the system to maintain overall sealing while providing dedicated pathways for controlled gas venting, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and pressure management.
Solution Approach 2:
A membrane is introduced as an intermediary component between the battery interior and exterior environment. The membrane allows selective gas passage while maintaining pressure balance during normal operation, and permits controlled venting when pressure exceeds thresholds, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of sealing and pressure relief.
2Reliability
If the battery housing is sealed to protect internal components, then protection against external contaminants is achieved, but thermal events cause uncontrolled rupture and damage to surrounding vehicle components
Solution Approach 1:
The vent cap and breather plug are pre-configured to activate at specific pressure thresholds before catastrophic failure can occur. This preliminary anti-action mechanism prevents the harmful effect of uncontrolled rupture by establishing controlled release pathways in advance, allowing the battery to safely vent gases during thermal events while maintaining protection against normal environmental contaminants.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a vent mechanism is added to release internal gases, then pressure control is improved, but the complexity of the battery assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent cap assembly operates autonomously based on internal pressure conditions without requiring external control systems. The breather plug and membrane self-regulate gas flow based on pressure differentials, and the vent cap mechanically releases when threshold pressures are reached. This self-service mechanism provides effective pressure control while minimizing added complexity compared to electronically controlled systems.
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
Prevents battery rupture by safely venting internal gases, protecting vehicle components and ensuring rider safety.
Implementation Method 1
The membrane may be configured to pass air between the housing and an external environment, such as to equalize a pressure within the housing with the external environment
Implementation Method 2
The vent cap may be configured to mechanically release from the hosing to vent internal gases out of the battery in response to a pressure within the housing, such as in response to the pressure within the housing exceeding a threshold
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods associated with a battery for a micromobility transit vehicle are provided. A micromobility transit vehicle may include a frame and a battery disposed at least partially in the frame. The battery may include a housing and a ventilation assembly. The ventilation assembly may include a vent cap releasably coupled to the housing, and a breather plug connected to the vent cap and including a membrane configured to pass air between the housing and an external environment, such as to equalize a pressure within the housing with an external environment. The vent cap may be configured to mechanically release from the housing to vent internal gases out of the battery in response to a pressure within the housing, such as in response to a pressure exceeding a threshold.