Pressure relief valve

Abstract

A pressure relief valve includes a bowl-shaped housing having a bottom wall and an annular sealing wall, wherein the sealing wall delimits a valve through-opening, and a jacket wall. A cover is provided for covering a housing opening of the housing opposite to the bottom wall, having a diaphragm holder extending in the direction of the bottom wall. A diaphragm is provided for covering the valve through-opening, wherein the diaphragm is connected to the diaphragm holder and disposes the diaphragm holder sealingly on the annular sealing wall such that the valve through-opening is closed.

Claims

1. Pressure relief valve comprising: a bowl-shaped housing means having: a bottom wall comprising an annular sealing wall, wherein the sealing wall delimits a valve through-opening, and a jacket wall, a cover means for covering a housing opening of the housing means opposite to the bottom wall, and having a diaphragm holding means which extends in the direction of the bottom wall, a diaphragm means for covering the valve through-opening, wherein the diaphragm means is connected to the diaphragm holding means and is disposed sealingly on the annular sealing wall such that the valve through-opening is closed, wherein the diaphragm holding means tapers in the direction of the bottom wall and is an extension of the cover means, wherein at least three latching elements for securing to a carrier component are provided on the jacket wall in a radially circumferential manner and equidistant from one another, wherein each of the latching elements comprises a plurality of latching edges located above the bottom wall.

2. Pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm holding means is configured and dimensioned such that a radially circumferential sealing edge of the diaphragm means is acted upon by the diaphragm holding means with a force in the direction of the sealing wall such that the sealing edge sealingly rests against the sealing wall under pretension.

3. Pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm means comprises a fastening recess in which a fastening portion of the diaphragm holding means is received in a contacting manner or can be fastened releasably by means of a press fit.

4. Pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the housing means and/or the cover means comprise through-openings for releasing excess pressure escaping from the valve through-opening.

5. Pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein only one valve through-opening is configured in the bottom wall.

6. Pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein in the region of the valve through-opening, the bottom wall comprises a centering ring, which comprises a diaphragm receptacle in the region of the diaphragm means for receiving a pin of the diaphragm means.

7. Pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein an annular mounting flange is provided in the region of the bottom wall, wherein a sealing means can be disposed between a carrier component and the mounting flange.

8. Pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the cover means can be connected to the jacket wall of the housing means via latching means and latching recesses disposed in a radially circumferential manner and configured to correspond to one another.

9. Pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the pressure relief valve is provided for relieving excess pressure in a battery housing for receiving a battery device, wherein the pressure relief valve can be disposed and fastened in a through-opening of the battery housing, wherein the battery housing comprises aluminum.

10. A pressure relief valve, comprising: a bowl-shaped housing having: a bottom wall comprising an annular sealing wall, wherein the sealing wall delimits a valve through-opening, and a jacket wall, a cover for covering a housing opening of the housing opposite to the bottom wall, and having a diaphragm holder extending in the direction of the bottom wall, a diaphragm for covering the valve through-opening, wherein the diaphragm is connected to the diaphragm holder and is disposed sealingly on the annular sealing wall such that the valve through-opening is closed; wherein the jacket wall includes a plurality of openings for pressure relief and the cover includes multiple through openings for pressure relief, and wherein a plurality of latching elements project outwardly from the jacket wall at locations above the bottom wall for securing the pressure relief valve to a carrier component.

11. The pressure relief valve of claim 10, wherein the jacket wall includes a plurality of latching through openings and the cover includes a plurality of latching protrusions engaged in the latching through openings to hold the cover on the bowl-shaped housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be described in more detail in the following on the basis of a design example shown in the figures. The present invention comprises the features shown in the figures. The figures show:

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective view of a pressure relief valve according to the invention according to a first design example of the present invention,

(3) FIG. 2 a lateral section through a perspective view of the pressure relief valve,

(4) FIG. 3 a plan view from above onto the pressure relief valve,

(5) FIG. 4 a lateral sectional view of the pressure relief valve along the line A-A,

(6) FIG. 5 a further lateral sectional view of the pressure relief valve with a detail view B,

(7) FIG. 6 a further perspective view of the pressure relief valve with a diaphragm means,

(8) FIG. 7 a perspective lateral sectional view of the pressure relief valve with a diaphragm means of FIG. 6,

(9) FIG. 8 a further perspective view of the pressure relief valve without a diaphragm means,

(10) FIG. 9 a perspective lateral sectional view of the pressure relief valve without a diaphragm means of FIG. 8,

(11) FIG. 10 a perspective view of a cover means with a diaphragm holding means and the diaphragm means of the pressure relief valve,

(12) FIG. 11 a lateral section through a perspective view of FIG. 10.

(13) FIG. 12 a perspective view of a pressure relief valve according to the invention according to a second design example of the present invention,

(14) FIG. 13 a lateral section through a perspective view of the pressure relief valve,

(15) FIG. 14 a plan view from above onto the pressure relief valve,

(16) FIG. 15 a lateral sectional view of the pressure relief valve along the line C-C,

(17) FIG. 16 a further lateral sectional view of the pressure relief valve with a detail view D,

(18) FIG. 17 a further perspective view of the pressure relief valve with a diaphragm means,

(19) FIG. 18 a perspective lateral sectional view of the pressure relief valve with a diaphragm means of FIG. 6,

(20) FIG. 19 a further perspective view of the pressure relief valve without a diaphragm means,

(21) FIG. 20 a perspective lateral sectional view of the pressure relief valve without a diaphragm means of FIG. 8,

(22) FIG. 21 a perspective view of a cover means with a diaphragm holding means and a diaphragm means of the pressure relief valve, and

(23) FIG. 22 a lateral section through a perspective view of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(24) A pressure relief valve 1 according to the invention is described in the following on the basis of a first design example (FIGS. 1 to 11).

(25) The pressure relief valve 1 comprises a bowl-shaped housing means 2, a cover means 3 and a diaphragm means 4.

(26) The bowl-shaped housing means 2 comprises a bottom wall 5. The bottom wall 5 delimits a valve through-opening 6. In the region of the valve through-opening 6, a surface of the bottom wall facing in the direction of the diaphragm means 4 forms an annular sealing wall 7.

(27) A radially circumferential jacket wall 8 is integrally formed on the bottom wall 5.

(28) A plurality of overpressure or through-openings 9 are configured in the jacket wall 8 in a radially circumferential manner and equidistant from one another for releasing excess pressure to be released via the valve through-opening 6.

(29) On an outer surface of the jacket wall 8, there are, for example six, radially circumferential latching elements 10 which extend outward in radial direction and are preferably equidistant from one another for securing the pressure relief valve 1 in a through-opening of a carrier component (not shown).

(30) Each of the latching elements 10 preferably comprises a plurality of latching edges 11, which are configured in the form of a knurling 12. The latching elements 10 are preferably provided adjacent to the overpressure openings 9 in the jacket wall 8 of the housing means 2.

(31) The latching elements 10 are therefore preferably configured to engage behind an edge of a through-opening of the carrier component (not shown). The latching elements 10 can alternatively also be structurally configured to engage in correspondingly configured latching element receiving recesses (not shown) of a carrier component.

(32) Latching recesses 13, which are likewise configured in the form of through-openings, are provided in the jacket wall 8 as well. Said latching recesses are disposed in a radially circumferential manner and equidistant from one another in the jacket wall 8. The latching recesses 13 serve to receive correspondingly configured latching means 14 of the cover means 3 in order to connect them to the housing means 2.

(33) The cover means 3 is approximately disc-shaped, whereby at least two or three or more latching means 14 are integrally formed on a radial outer edge of the cover means in a radially circumferential manner and equidistant from one another for connecting to the housing means 2. The latching means are configured to correspond to the latching recesses 13 of the housing means 2.

(34) Overpressure or through-openings 9 for releasing or relieving excess pressure are furthermore also provided in the cover means 3.

(35) Approximately in the center, the cover means 3 comprises a diaphragm holding means 15 that extends in the direction of the bottom wall 5 of the housing means 2. This diaphragm holding means 15 is connected to the cover means 3 via webs 16, which delimit the overpressure openings 9 of the cover means 3, and is an integral part of said cover means.

(36) The diaphragm holding means 15 is configured in the shape of a pin, in particular a conical pin that tapers in the direction of the bottom wall 5 of the housing means 2. At its end facing in the direction of the bottom wall 2, the diaphragm holding means according to the first design example comprises a cylindrical connecting or fastening portion 17.

(37) In the region of the fastening portion 17, the diaphragm holding means 15 in particular comprises a radially circumferential annular pretensioning portion 24, which extends approximately parallel to the diaphragm means 4.

(38) The pretensioning portion 24 is configured such that the larger the diameter of the pretensioning portion, the greater the pretensioning force with which the diaphragm means 4 is disposed on the sealing wall 7 of the valve through-opening 6. This means that the wider or the larger the outer diameter of the annular pretensioning portion 21, the shorter a free leg of the diaphragm means 4 is.

(39) As explained above, a similar technical effect is possible by changing the height of the diaphragm holding means orthogonally to the diaphragm means.

(40) The cylindrical fastening portion 17 can be disposed in a correspondingly configured connecting or fastening recess 18 of the diaphragm means and is preferably releasably connected to said diaphragm means via a press fit. The fastening recess 18 can be configured as a blind hole. The region of this connection is referred to as the connecting region.

(41) In addition and/or as an alternative to the press fit, a radially circumferential latching edge can also be provided in conjunction with a correspondingly configured latching recess or any suitable form- and/or force- and or friction-locking connection.

(42) Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a simple loose contact between the fastening portion 17 and the fastening recess 18.

(43) The diaphragm means 15 is approximately bell-shaped or half-shell-shaped or spherical segment-shaped and, on its end facing in the direction of the bottom wall 5, comprises a radially circumferential sealing edge 19 for resting sealingly on the sealing wall 7 of the bottom wall 5 of the housing means 2.

(44) The fastening recess 18 is provided approximately in the center in the diaphragm means 15 for preferably releasable connection to the fastening portion 17 of the diaphragm holding means 15.

(45) An integral connection of the diaphragm means 4 to the diaphragm holding means 15 of the cover means 3 using a 2-component injection molding process is possible as well.

(46) In the region of the bottom wall, the housing means 2 further comprises an integrally formed and preferably step-like fastening flange 20 for abutting a through-opening of a carrier component (not shown).

(47) A corresponding step serves as a stop or compression limit for the sealing means.

(48) A corresponding annular sealing means (not shown) in the form of a TPE seal or an O-ring seal can be disposed between the fastening flange 20 and the through-opening of the carrier component. This sealing means can likewise be connected to the fastening flange using a 2-component injection molding process.

(49) A pressure relief valve 1 according to the invention according to a second design example is described in more detail in the following (FIGS. 12 to 22).

(50) Unless described otherwise, the pressure relief valve 1 according to the second design example comprises the same technical features as the pressure relief valve 1 according to the first design example. The same technical features are provided with the same reference signs.

(51) According to the second design example, the bottom wall 5 can comprise a centering ring 21 in the region of the valve through-opening 6. The centering ring 21 comprises a diaphragm receptacle 22, which is connected to the bottom wall 5 via struts 23.

(52) The centering ring 21 is thus an integral component of the bottom wall.

(53) The diaphragm receptacle 22 is annular with a through-opening 24 for receiving and/or connecting to a pin 25 of the diaphragm means 4.

(54) The struts 23, in conjunction with the bottom wall 5 and the diaphragm receptacle 24, delimit corresponding overpressure openings 9 in the region of the valve through-opening 6.

(55) The struts 23 are disposed in a radially circumferential manner and equidistant from one another. For example, at least three and preferably also four or even five or more struts 23 can preferably be provided.

(56) The diaphragm receptacle 22 can alternatively also be configured as a blind hole (not shown).

(57) The pin 25 is an integral component of the diaphragm means 4 and extends from it in the region of the valve through-opening 6 in the direction of the fastening flange 20. The pin 25 in particular comprises a cylindrical fastening region 26, with which the pin 25 is disposed and secured in the through-opening 27 of the diaphragm receptacle 22.

(58) A radially circumferential fastening web 30 is integrally formed on the pin 25 in the region of the fastening flange 20 behind the fastening region 26 to connect the pin of the diaphragm means to the diaphragm receptacle.

(59) A portion of the pin can also extend beyond the fastening web. The diaphragm can thus be mounted through the bore by pulling rather than pushing (the projecting region can be gripped with pliers, for example) (due to the softness of the diaphragm, pulling may be better than pushing). Such a pin can therefore be provided as a mounting aid.

(60) The through-opening 27 widens in the direction of the diaphragm means 4 to form an approximately circular diaphragm recess 28. In the region of the diaphragm recess, the diaphragm means 4 comprises the correspondingly configured diaphragm portion 29.

(61) A carrier component is in particular an aluminum profile of a battery housing for a high-voltage battery, such as are used in modern electric vehicles. The pressure relief valve is thus configured to relieve any type of excess pressure that may occur in such a battery housing.

(62) Such excess pressure can, for example, be caused by gas formation in the event of a malfunction of the battery or by a fire. The subsequently occurring excess pressure in the battery housing can be released by means of the pressure relief valve according to the invention, whereby, when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded, the diaphragm means, in particular its sealing edge, is elastically deformed and lifted away from the sealing wall of the bottom wall of the housing means.

(63) The escaping gas or the excess pressure is then initially released into a space delimited by the bottom wall, the jacket wall of the housing means and the cover means and released to the outside via the through-opening provided in the cover means and the jacket wall.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(64) 1 Pressure relief valve 2 Housing means 3 Cover means 4 Diaphragm means 5 Bottom wall 6 Valve through-opening 7 Sealing wall 8 Jacket wall 9 Overpressure opening 10 Latching element 11 Latching edge 12 Knurling 13 Latching recess 14 Latching means 15 Diaphragm holding means 16 Web 17 Fastening portion 18 Fastening arrangement 19 Sealing edge 20 Fastening flange 21 Centering ring 22 Diaphragm receptacle 23 Strut 24 Pretensioning portion 25 Pin 26 Fastening region 27 Through-opening 28 Diaphragm recess 29 Diaphragm portion 30 Fastening web