Capacitor Safety Valve Blocking Mechanism for Electrolyte Splash

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Solution Overview

Problem

In capacitors with a gas releasing mechanism, the electrolyte can splash and adhere to the safety valve, blocking the gas transmission path and reducing the valve's permeability, which impairs the gas release function and explosion-proof capabilities, especially in non-ideal mounting arrangements.

Innovation Solution

A blocking mechanism is implemented on the sealing plate and current collecting plates to prevent electrolyte from reaching the safety valve, comprising multiple blocking walls and an electrolyte absorbent material to absorb excess electrolyte, ensuring the gas releasing mechanism remains functional even in horizontal or tilted arrangements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the capacitor is mounted in non-ideal arrangements (horizontal or tilted positions), then the mounting flexibility is improved, but the electrolyte may splash and adhere to the safety valve, reducing gas transmission and valve permeability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting flexibilityVSAvoidgas release function
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A blocking wall is introduced as an intermediary structure between the electrolyte and the safety valve. This blocking wall prevents direct contact between the electrolyte and the safety valve, allowing the capacitor to be mounted in various orientations without compromising the safety valve's gas transmission function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing plate is segmented into multiple functional regions: a blocking wall region that prevents electrolyte access, and a safety valve region that maintains gas transmission. This segmentation allows the safety valve to be protected from electrolyte while still performing its gas release function in non-ideal mounting arrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a blocking mechanism is added to prevent electrolyte from reaching the safety valve, then the gas release function is maintained, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas release functionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking wall is merged with the sealing plate structure, forming an integrated component rather than a separate part. This integration maintains the gas release function while minimizing the increase in device complexity by combining protective and sealing functions in a single structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking wall is strategically positioned only where needed to prevent electrolyte access to the safety valve, rather than creating a complete barrier throughout the entire sealing plate. This localized approach maintains gas transmission pathways while providing necessary protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 blocking mechanism effectively prevents electrolyte from interfering with the safety valve, maintaining the gas release function and explosion-proof reliability regardless of the capacitor's mounting orientation or vibrations, thus enhancing the capacitor's overall reliability.

Implementation Method 1

an electrolyte absorbent material to absorb excess electrolyte

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP3010029B1Capacitor with gas release mechanism
Publication Date: 2021.01.06 NIPPON CHEMI CON CORP
  • EP3010029B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3010029B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3010029B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A capacitor (2) has an exterior package case (12) housing an electrolyte (4) along with a capacitor element (10), a sealing plate (14) where an external terminal is disposed , the sealing plate sealing the exterior package case, and a current collecting plate (18-1, 18-2) disposed between an electrode protruding portion formed on an element end surface of the capacitor element and the external terminal, and comprises a gas releasing mechanism (a safety valve 16) disposed in the sealing plate to release a gas in the exterior package case, and a blocking mechanism (6) disposed on at least one of the sealing plate and the current collecting plate to block the electrolyte from the gas releasing mechanism. As a result, the electrolyte is blocked by the blocking mechanism and therefore does not deteriorate the releasing function of the gas releasing mechanism.