Spring-Clamped Pressure-Relief Cover for Battery Cell Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure relief covers for cell-like cavities, such as battery cells, are complex to assemble and may not reliably protect against excessive pressure buildup, as they require multiple installation steps and may not securely maintain the seal under varying pressure conditions.
Innovation Solution
A pressure relief cover with a spring clip having radially outward spring tongues that trough downwards, allowing easy assembly by snapping into place and maintaining a seal until internal pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold, at which point the cover lifts off to relieve pressure, featuring a central retaining lug and support parts to prevent unintentional removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure relief cover with a spring clip and multiple radially outward spring tongues is used, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function and the retention function into a single integrated pressure relief cover component. The cover part includes both the seal element and the spring tongues that provide both sealing contact and retention by engaging with the housing opening, eliminating the need for separate retention mechanisms and simplifying assembly to a single pressing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring tongues are divided into multiple radially outwardly directed segments that can independently deflect and engage with the housing opening. This segmentation allows each tongue to independently provide sealing contact and retention, improving reliability while maintaining simple assembly through the unified pressing-in process.
2Strength
If a pressure relief cover with multiple mounting steps is used, then the retention strength is improved, but the ease of assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spring tongues are pre-formed with a configuration that allows them to automatically engage with the housing opening during the pressing-in process. The radially outwardly directed design with recessed spring sections is prepared in advance to snap into place, providing strong retention through a single assembly action rather than multiple mounting steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure relief cover is designed to self-retain through the spring tongues that automatically engage with the housing opening when pressed in. The spring sections provide automatic retention without requiring additional mounting operations, and the cover can self-release when pressure exceeds the spring force, eliminating the need for complex multi-step mounting and dismounting procedures.
3Reliability
If a pressure relief cover with a seal under contact pressure is used, then the sealing performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal function and the pressure application function are merged into the spring tongues themselves. The radially outwardly directed spring sections provide both the structural framework and the elastic force that presses the seal against the housing opening, eliminating the need for separate compression elements or adjustment mechanisms and simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring force of the radially outwardly directed spring sections can be adjusted by changing parameters such as the spring material, cross-section, and length, allowing optimization of sealing performance without changing the basic device structure. This enables tuning of the contact pressure on the seal while maintaining the simple integrated design of the spring tongue mechanism.
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 enables easy and reliable assembly of the pressure relief cover, effectively managing pressure within cell-like cavities by ensuring a secure seal that lifts off when pressure exceeds a set threshold, preventing bursting risks while allowing for safe pressure reduction.
Implementation Method 1
the spring sections are recessed downwards away from the cover part in order to hold the pressure relief cover to the housing opening... the outer recessed legs are deflected radially inward by the inside of the circumferential edge defining the opening. The free end sections then snap back under the wall area of the opening edge
Implementation Method 2
a cover part which carries a seal for sealing a housing opening up to a predetermined cell pressure... the pressure threshold can be predetermined by the spring force of the spring tongues
Implementation Method 3
the cover section with the seal can lift off from the outside of the wall area around the opening edge when the internal pressure of the battery cell exceeds a predetermined pressure threshold
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a pressure-relief cover for reducing pressure arising in a cell-like cavity, such as a battery cell, having a cover part (2) which bears a seal (21) for sealing a housing opening (11) up to a predetermined cell pressure and is provided with a retaining device in order to secure said cover part on the housing opening (11). An advantageous mode of assembly combined with a secure function is achieved in that the retaining device comprises a spring clamp (22) which is mounted on the underside of the cover part (2) facing the housing opening (11) and which has a plurality of radially outwardly directed spring tongues (220) which are provided at their ends with spring portions (221, 222) which, when pressing the cover part (2) onto the housing opening (11), can be moved back resiliently through the opening edge in the radial direction and, after passing through the housing opening, snap back under a wall region around the opening edge.