PRESSURE-RELIEF VALVE FOR REDUCING PRESSURE ARISING IN A CELL-LIKE CAVITY, SUCH AS A BATTERY CELL

Abstract

A pressure relief valve for reducing pressure arising in a cell-like cavity, such as a battery cell, including a cover which has a seal for sealing a housing opening up to a predetermined cell pressure and is provided with a holding device in order to hold said cover on the housing opening, the holding device having a spring clip which is attached to the lower face of the cover that faces the housing opening and has a plurality of radially outwardly directed spring tongues which, at the ends thereof, are provided with spring portions which, when the cover is pressed onto the housing opening, can be moved back resiliently in the radial direction through the opening edge and, after passing through the housing opening, snap back under a wall region around the opening edge, wherein a bearing device, which is separate from the cover prior to mounting and to which the spring clip is fixed by a support part, is connected to the cover on the lower face thereof that faces the housing opening, a connection adapter being connected to the center of the bearing device, wherein a central opening of the spring is placed on the connection adapter and wherein the support part is connected to the connection adapter, thus fixing the spring clip.

Claims

1. A pressure relief valve for reducing pressure arising in a cell-like cavity, such as a battery cell, comprising a cover (2) which has a seal (21) for sealing a housing opening (11) up to a predetermined cell pressure and has a holding device to hold said cover on the housing opening (11), the holding device having a spring clip (22) is attached to the lower face of the cover (2) that faces the housing opening (11) and has a plurality of radially outwardly directed spring tongues (220) which, at the ends thereof have spring portions (221, 222) which, when the cover (2) is pressed onto the housing opening (11), can be moved back resiliently in the radial direction through the opening edge and, after passing through the housing opening, snap back under a wall region around the opening edge, a bearing device (201), which is separate from the cover prior to mounting and to which the spring clip (22) is fixed by a support part (23), is connected to the cover (2) on the lower face thereof that faces the housing opening (11), a connection adapter (203) is connected to the center of the bearing device (201), a central opening of the spring clip (22) is placed on the connection adapter (203), and the support part (23) is connected to the connection adapter (203), thus fixing the spring clip (22).

2. The pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the connection adapter (203) is designed such that the bearing device (201), the spring clip (22) and the support part (23) are oriented relative to one another in a fixed rotational position by said connection adapter.

3. The pressure relief valve according to claim 2, wherein the bearing device (201) and the spring clip (22) have a star shape in an axial plan view, having a number of 2n arms and 2n spring tongues (220), the connection adapter (203) has a non-round shape in the axial plan view and the support part (23) has a star shape having a number of n arms, where n is a positive integer.

4. The pressure relief valve according to claim 3, wherein the connection adapter (203) has a shape which is angular in the axial plan view, in particular having a number of n corners.

5. The pressure relief valve according to claim 4, wherein the bearing device (201) and the connection adapter (203) are formed in one piece with one another or integrally bonded or latched or screwed together, and the connection adapter (203) and the support part (23) are latched or screwed together.

6. The pressure relief valve according to claim 5, wherein the spring portions (221, 222), in the longitudinal portion thereof extending in the radial direction, are recessed downward away from the cover (2) in a U-shape and in the mounted state of the pressure relief valve, the free edges of the radially outer U-legs of the spring portions (221, 222) each form a support surface engaging under the wall region around the housing opening (11).

7. The pressure relief valve according to claim 6, wherein at least some of the spring portions (221) are spaced apart from the lower face of the cover (2) to such an extent that, in the mounted state, the seal (21) is held under pressure on the upper face of the wall region around the opening edge.

8. The pressure relief valve according to claim 7, wherein a further proportion of the spring portions (222) is spaced apart from the lower face of the cover part (2) to such an extent that, in the mounted state, said portions are spaced apart from the lower face of the wall region around the opening edge.

9. The pressure relief valve according to claim 8, wherein the spring tongues (220) which are connected to the spring portions (222) which are spaced further apart from the lower face of the cover (2) are supported and/or stiffened from below by the support part (23).

10. The pressure relief valve according to claim 9, wherein the spring clip (22) is supported and positioned on bearing structures (202) on the lower face of the bearing device (201), projections engaging in the depressions in the U-shaped spring portions (221, 222) and the bearing structures being designed such that the radially outer spring portions (221, 222) can be pivoted inward.

11. The pressure relief valve according to claim 10, wherein the cover (2) is equipped as a cover unit having two cover parts (20, 25) which are separated prior to the assembly of said cover, which unit has a first cover part (20) on the lower face facing the housing opening (11) and a second cover part (25), which is connected to the first cover part (20), on the upper face facing away from the housing opening (11).

12. The pressure relief valve according to claim 11, wherein a gas-permeable, at least largely moisture-impermeable membrane (24) is arranged between the two cover parts (20, 25).

13. The pressure relief valve according to claim 12, wherein the bearing device (201) and/or the second cover part (25) is releasably latched or screwed or non-releasably connected, in particular welded or glued, to the first cover part (20).

14. The pressure relief valve according to claim 12, wherein the membrane (24) is glued or welded to the first cover part (20) or the membrane (24) is held by the cover parts (20, 25).

15. The pressure relief valve according to claim 14, wherein the membrane (24) is connected to the first cover part (20) in a fluid-tight manner in a radial outer region.

16. The pressure relief valve according to claim 15, wherein at least one flow path for the passage of gas is formed by at least one channel portion (26) arranged between the cover parts (20, 25), which is connected to at least one opening to the cavity on one side and to the outside space around the cover (2) on the other side.

17. The pressure relief valve according to claim 16, wherein preferably a plurality of channel portions (26) are present and the channel portions (26) are delimited on the upper face of the first cover part (20) that faces away from the housing opening (11) and/or on the lower face of the second cover part (25) that faces the housing opening (11) by depressions in the cover parts (20, 25) or by spacers (28) which are arranged thereon and formed in one piece therewith and spacers (27) which are arranged on the radial outer face of the first cover part (20) and/or the second cover part (25) and are formed in one piece therewith.

18. Assembly kit for constructing a pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein at least two bearing devices (201) of different heights having connection adapters (203), at least one spring clip (22), at least one support part (23) and at least one assembled cover (2), are present.

19. A container comprising at least one cell-like cavity, in particular a battery or a rechargeable battery, having at least one pressure relief valve according to claim 1.

20. The pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the bearing device (201) and the spring clip (22) have a star shape in an axial plan view, having a number of 2n arms and 2n spring tongues (220), the connection adapter (203) has a non-round shape in the axial plan view and the support part (23) has a star shape having a number of n arms, where n is a positive integer.

21. The pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the connection adapter (203) has a shape which is angular in the axial plan view, in particular having a number of n corners.

22. The pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the bearing device (201) and the connection adapter (203) are formed in one piece with one another or integrally bonded or latched or screwed together, and the connection adapter (203) and the support part (23) are latched or screwed together.

23. The pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the spring portions (221, 222), in the longitudinal portion thereof extending in the radial direction, are recessed downward away from the cover (2) in a U-shape and in the mounted state of the pressure relief valve, the free edges of the radially outer U-legs of the spring portions (221, 222) each form a support surface engaging under the wall region around the housing opening (11).

24. The pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the spring portions (221) are spaced apart from the lower face of the cover (2) to such an extent that, in the mounted state, the seal (21) is held under pressure on the upper face of the wall region around the opening edge.

25. The pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein a further proportion of the spring portions (222) is spaced apart from the lower face of the cover part (2) to such an extent that, in the mounted state, said portions are spaced apart from the lower face of the wall region around the opening edge.

26. The pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the spring tongues (220) which are connected to the spring portions (222) which are spaced further apart from the lower face of the cover (2) are supported and/or stiffened from below by the support part (23).

27. The pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the spring clip (22) is supported and positioned on bearing structures (202) on the lower face of the bearing device (201), projections engaging in the depressions in the U-shaped spring portions (221, 222) and the bearing structures being designed such that the radially outer spring portions (221, 222) can be pivoted inward.

28. The pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the cover (2) is equipped as a cover unit having two cover parts (20, 25) which are separated prior to the assembly of said cover, which unit has a first cover part (20) on the lower face facing the housing opening (11) and a second cover part (25), which is connected to the first cover part (20), on the upper face facing away from the housing opening (11).

29. The pressure relief valve according to claim 11, wherein the bearing device (201) and/or the second cover part (25) is releasably latched or screwed or non-releasably connected, in particular welded or glued, to the first cover part (20).

30. The pressure relief valve according to claim 12, wherein the membrane (24) is connected to the first cover part (20) in a fluid-tight manner in a radial outer region.

31. The pressure relief valve according to claim 11, wherein at least one flow path for the passage of gas is formed by at least one channel portion (26) arranged between the cover parts (20, 25), which is connected to at least one opening to the cavity on one side and to the outside space around the cover (2) on the other side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] This invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of embodiments and with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a pressure relief valve;

[0030] FIGS. 2a-2d are perspective sectional views of the pressure relief valve from FIG. 1 mounted in a housing opening;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective plan view of the lower face of the housing opening with the mounted pressure relief valve from FIG. 1; and

[0032] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the pressure relief valve from FIG. 1 inserted into a housing opening, showing the gas exchange through the membrane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the pressure relief valve, which has a plurality of components: a multi-part cover 2 having a first 20 and second 25 cover part and a gas-permeable, at least largely moisture-impermeable membrane 24 arranged between the two cover parts 20, 25, a separate storage device 201 having a connection adapter 203 connected thereto, a spring clip 22 and a support part 23.

[0034] FIGS. 2a to 2d show a section of a housing 1 of a cell-like cavity, such as a battery cell, with a housing opening 11 introduced in a housing wall 10 and a pressure relief valve inserted in the housing opening 11, in a perspective view obliquely from above onto the housing wall 10 (FIG. 2a), a side view of the housing wall 10 (FIG. 2b), a side view rotated by 60°, for example, in comparison with FIG. 2b (FIG. 2c), and perspectively obliquely from the lower face or inside of the housing 1 (FIG. 2d).

[0035] The pressure relief valve in this case rests with the first cover part 20 on the upper face of the housing wall 10 around the edge of the housing opening 11 via a seal 21, the first cover part 20 being connected to a second cover part 25. During the manufacturing process or before the assembly of the cover 2, before the connection of the cover parts 20, 25, the membrane 24 is introduced between the cover parts 20, 25, the membrane being glued or welded to the first cover part 20 or held, for example clamped, by the cover parts 20, 25. The membrane 24 is advantageously connected to the first cover part 20 in a circumferential, fluid-tight manner in a radial outer region. At least one flow path for the passage of gas is formed by at least one channel portion 26 arranged between the cover parts 20, 25, the channel portion 26 being connected to at least one opening to the cavity on one side and to the outside space around the cover on the other side. A plurality of channel portions 26 which are offset from one another in the circumferential direction are preferably present. The channel portions 26 are, for example, delimited by spacers 27, 28 which are arranged on and formed in one piece with the upper face of the first cover part 20 that faces away from the housing opening 11, and/or the lower face of the second cover part 25 that faces the housing opening 11 and the radial outer face of the first cover part 20 and/or second cover part 25. The channel portions can also be delimited by depressions in the upper face of the first cover part 20 and/or in the lower face of the second cover part 25 and by spacers 27, 28 which are arranged on the radial outer face of the first cover part 20 and/or second cover part 25 and are integrally formed therewith, it being possible for the first 20 and second 25 cover part to also lie directly on top of one another.

[0036] The bearing device 201, which is separate from the cover prior to mounting, is connected to the face of the cover 2 that faces the housing opening 11, in particular to the first cover part 20 thereof, the connection adapter 203 being connected to the center of the bearing device 201. A central opening of the spring clip 22 placed on the connection adapter 203 and the support part 23 is connected to the connection adapter 203, thus fixing the spring clip 22, as a result of which the spring clip 22 arranged therebetween is fixed to the bearing device 201. In this case, the connection of the first cover part 20 to the storage device 201 is advantageously established either releasably, for example by latching or screwing, or non-releasably, for example by welding or gluing. It is particularly advantageous if the bearing device 201 and the connection adapter 203 are formed in one piece with one another or are latched or screwed together in the mounted state and the connection adapter 203 and the support part 23 are likewise latched or screwed together.

[0037] The spring clip 22, which preferably consists of or is of metal, has a plurality of radially outwardly extending spring tongues 220, specifically six in the embodiment shown. The end portions of the spring tongues transition into spring portions 221, 222 which are recessed downward in a U-shape, such as away from the cover 2, in particular the first cover part 20, the radially outer free spring legs or edges of which spring portions engage under the wall region around the opening edge of the housing opening 11 in the mounted state. Three of the spring tongues 220 are underpinned by the support part 23, such that they can practically not be deflected downward resiliently, while the remaining three elastic tongues 220 are downwardly exposed and can be resiliently deflected. In the embodiment shown, the spring tongues 220 are distributed at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction, downwardly exposed spring tongues 220 alternating with spring tongues which are supported from below by the support part 23, such as an angular distance of 60 degrees results between the individual spring tongues 220 in the circumferential direction. More than six spring tongues 220 may also be provided, for example, which are alternately exposed and underpinned.

[0038] The U-shaped end portions of the spring tongues 220 underpinned or uncovered by the support part 23 are exposed as well, such that the radially outer U-legs can pivot inward when the pressure relief valve is pressed from above into the housing opening 11, the outer circumference around the radially outer U-legs being slightly larger in the region of the free ends thereof than the circumference of the housing opening 11 which is to be associated. Furthermore, the free ends of the radially outer U-legs of the spring portions 221, 222 are so far away from the lower face of the cover part 20 and the seal 21 resting thereon that the outer legs, after passing through the housing opening 11 at the lower face of the wall region, can snap back around the opening edge.

[0039] As shown in more detail from FIGS. 2c, 2d and 3, the distance between the free ends of the outer U-legs and the lower face of the first cover part 20 is smaller in the case of the unsupported spring tongues 220 than in the case of the spring tongues 220 supported by the support part 23. This means that the U-legs of the unsupported spring tongues 220 form long spring portions 221 and the outer U-legs of the supported spring tongues 220 form short spring portions 222. The long spring portions 221 are dimensioned such that, in the case of the pressed state of the cover part 20 and a slightly compressed seal 21, the free ends of the long spring portions 221 that are formed as support surfaces are supported under tension on the lower face of the wall region around the opening edge of the housing opening 11. In order to snap the long spring portions 221 under the wall region around the opening edge, the first cover part 20 is pressed against the upper face or outer face of the wall region around the opening edge until the seal 21 consisting of or including a resilient material is deformed enough to then expand again and maintain sufficient tension to fulfill its sealing function.

[0040] By contrast, in the inserted state of the pressure relief valve, the free end region of the short spring portions 222 is spaced apart from the lower face of the wall region around the opening edge by a distance a (FIG. 2c). In the case of an internal cell pressure which exceeds the pressure threshold predetermined by the exposed spring tongues 220, the cover 2 or the first cover part 20 with the seal 21 lifts off from the upper face of the wall region around the housing opening 11, such that the internal pressure in the cell interior decreases. In order to ensure that the pressure relief valve 2 is not moved out of the region of the housing opening 11, the short spring portions 222 are provided which ensure a sufficient distance a from the lower wall region around the opening edge, such that, even in the case of a high internal pressure of the cell, a reliable pressure reduction is ensured by a correspondingly large ventilation gap, but also such that the cover is held in the region of the housing opening 11, since the spring tongues 220 belonging to the short spring portions 222 are prevented from resiliently pivoting back downward by the support part 23, and are thus supported and/or stiffened by said support part.

[0041] The spring clip 22 is advantageously supported, and thus also positioned, on bearing structures 202 on the lower face of the bearing device 201, projections engaging in the depressions of the U-shaped spring portions 221, 222, but sufficient clearance being provided for the radially outer U-legs to pivot inward. As shown in FIGS. 2a to 2d and 3, the central opening of the spring clip 22 is arranged on the connection adapter 203 arranged in the center of the bearing device 201, and the spring clip is connected to the adapter by the relatively rigid support part 23.

[0042] The connection adapter 203 is also designed such that the bearing device 201, the spring clip 22 and the support part 23 are oriented relative to one another in a fixed rotational position by the connection adapter. The bearing device 201 and the spring clip 22 advantageously have a star shape in an axial plan view, having a number of 2n arms and 2n spring tongues 220, the connection adapter 203 having a non-round shape in the axial plan view and the support part 23 having a star shape having a number of n arms, where n is a positive integer. The connection adapter 203 can, for example, have a shape which is angular, oval or provided with a projection, such that a clear rotational position of the aforementioned parts relative to one another is ensured. An embodiment in which the connection adapter 203 has an angular shape in an axial plan view, having a number of n corners, is particularly advantageous.

[0043] FIG. 4 schematically shows the gas exchange which is made possible by the membrane 24 below the pressure threshold of the pressure relief valve, that is to say when the cover 2 has not been lifted off. Moisture or other fine foreign particles cannot penetrate the cell through the membrane 24. When the pressure relief valve is triggered, such penetration is also at least largely prevented by the excess pressure of the gas flowing out of the cell between the seal 21 and the housing opening 11.

[0044] The design described above and shown in the drawings results in an advantageous type of mounting which functions reliably.

[0045] By using at least two bearing devices 201 and/or possibly connection adapters 203 of different heights, the pressure relief valve can advantageously be constructed and used in modular form as an assembly kit for different wall thicknesses of the housing wall around the housing opening 11, which kit additionally comprises at least one spring clip 22, at least one support part 23 and the cover 2, which is optionally already assembled.

[0046] The pressure relief valve is used in a container comprising at least one cell-like cavity, in particular a battery or rechargeable battery. In addition to battery or accumulator cells, use is also possible in other cell-like cavities, such as a closed container in which a pressure can build up and which causes a risk of bursting, such as a storage container in an aircraft.