Power Module Pressure Valve Structure for Accurate Opening Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pressure regulating valves for power storage modules lack accuracy in opening at a desired pressure and are complex in configuration, with manufacturing limitations and high variability due to elastic member properties.

Innovation Solution

A pressure regulating valve design featuring a housing with a recess and a cover body, incorporating a columnar valve element with radial and cross-direction grooves, allowing precise control of pressure opening through a columnar space and grooves that adjust pressure reception area, reducing manufacturing complexity and variability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a conventional pressure regulating valve uses an elastic member to close the pressure introduction passage, then the valve can be opened at a desired pressure, but the opening pressure varies significantly due to elastic member properties and settling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening pressure accuracyVSAvoidvalve opening consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the elastic member-based mechanical closure system with a capillary action-based liquid seal system. The liquid sealing member (electrolytic solution) is held in place by surface tension and capillary forces in the groove structure, eliminating the variability of elastic materials. The valve opens when internal pressure overcomes the capillary holding force, providing consistent and predictable opening pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and location of the sealing mechanism from a deformable elastic member to a liquid held by surface tension. By controlling the groove dimensions and liquid properties, the opening pressure can be precisely adjusted and reproduced without the settling and property variations that affect elastic members.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If each tube is attached to each internal space for pressure regulation, then each space can be regulated independently, but the configuration becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent pressure regulationVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal pressure regulating valve that can be applied to multiple internal spaces. The valve structure with its groove-based liquid sealing mechanism can regulate pressure in different compartments, eliminating the need for separate tubes in each space while maintaining independent regulation capability through multiple valve units if needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the functions of multiple pressure regulation mechanisms into a single valve design. By using a liquid sealing member in a groove structure, the valve can handle pressure regulation for multiple internal spaces through a unified configuration rather than requiring separate tube attachments for each space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If a pressure regulating valve uses a complex configuration to achieve accurate opening, then opening accuracy may improve, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening pressure accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sealing function from complex mechanical components and implements it through a simple groove structure filled with liquid. This extraction of the essential sealing function to a basic geometric feature (groove) dramatically simplifies manufacturing while maintaining precise opening pressure control through capillary action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a liquid sealing member that behaves like a flexible membrane held by surface tension. The liquid in the groove creates a flexible seal that responds to pressure changes, providing accurate opening pressure without requiring complex rigid mechanical structures that would be difficult and time-consuming to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Enables accurate opening at a desired pressure with reduced manufacturing time and cost, minimizing variations due to elastic member properties and settling, and enhancing operational reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid sealing member which is different from the electrolytic solution and which seals the aperture on the bottom side in the pressure introduction passage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

the groove has a radial direction groove extending outward from a part of the pressure introducing part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentEP4333167B1Pressure regulation valve
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 NOK CORP
  • EP4333167B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP4333167B1 patent drawingFigure 5~9
  • EP4333167B1 patent drawingFigure 10~13

AI summary

There is provided a pressure regulating valve which can be opened at a desired pressure with high accuracy and can be manufactured with a small number of man-hours. A pressure regulating valve 100 for a power storage module includes a housing 10 having a housing main body 11 with an opening and with a recess 13 formed in the inside and a cover body 12 that closes the opening of the housing main body 11 and a columnar valve element 20 that is an elastic member housed in the recess 13 of the housing main body 11 of the housing 10, wherein the housing main body 11 has a pressure introduction passage 19 formed of a through-hole into which pressure from a power storage module is introduced at a bottom of the recess 13, and the pressure introduction passage 19 has a pressure introducing part 31 which is a columnar space passing through the housing main body 11, and a groove 33 which is connected to the pressure introducing part 31 and opens to a surface of the bottom 17, the valve element 20 has a shorter axial length than the outer diameter and is arranged so as to cover an aperture on the bottom 17 side in the pressure introduction passage 19, the cover body 12 has a protrusion 14 in contact with an end face of the valve element 20, and the opening 15 of the housing main body 11 is closed with the cover body 12, whereby the protrusion 14 of the cover body 12 pressurizes the valve element 20, and the valve element 20 airtightly closes the pressure introduction passage 19.