Rechargeable battrey transportation device for a rechargeable battery

Abstract

The invention relates to a rechargeable battery transportation device (10) for a re-chargeable battery (22), in particular a lithium rechargeable battery, with (a) an external case (12) which has (i) a base body (16) with a filling opening (20), (ii) a cap (18) for creating an air-tight seal of the filling opening (20), and (iii) a ventilation opening (28), and (b) an inner tank (14) which (i) is arranged in the external case (12) and (ii) encloses an accommodation space (30) for accommodating the rechargeable battery (22). According to the invention, between the external case (12) and the inner tank (14) there is at least one flow path (S) from the accommodation space (30) to the ventilation opening (28), and a heat absorption material (36) is arranged along the flow path (S).

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery transportation device for a rechargeable battery, comprising: (a) an external case which comprises (i) a base body which has a filling opening, (ii) a cap for creating an air-tight seal with the filling opening, and (iii) a ventilation opening, (b) an inner tank, which (i) is arranged in the external case, and (ii) encloses an accommodation space for accommodating the rechargeable battery, (c) at least one flow path from the accommodation space to the ventilation opening, wherein the at least one flow path is between the external case and the inner tank, and (d) a heat absorption material is arranged along the at least one flow path.

2. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 1, wherein (a) the at least one flow path runs along at least three external walls of the external case, and (b) the heat absorption material is panel-shaped and is arranged on at least one of the at least three external walls, along which the at least one flow path runs.

3. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 1, wherein (a) the at least one flow path runs along at least three external walls of the inner tank, and (b) the heat absorption material is panel-shaped and is arranged on external walls of the inner tank along which the at least one flow path runs.

4. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 1 further comprising a granulate arranged along the at least one flow path which contains one or more of calcium hydroxide, and an alkali metal hydroxide.

5. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 4 wherein the granulate contains an indicator.

6. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 4 wherein the granulate is in particulate form wherein particles of the particulate have median particle diameter ranging from 1.5 to 5 millimeters.

7. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 4 wherein particles of the granulate are cylindrical.

8. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 4 wherein the granulate is porous.

9. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 4 wherein the granulate is soda lime.

10. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 4 further comprising an activated carbon filter is arranged in the at least one flow path behind the granulate.

11. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one flow path runs along at least one external wall of the external case across a height difference of at least one third of a height of the external case.

12. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one flow path runs downwards across at least one section whose length is greater than one third of a height of the external case.

13. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 2 wherein the at least one flow path runs along at least four external walls of the external case.

14. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 2 further comprising a granulate arranged along the at least one flow path which contains one or more of calcium hydroxide, and an alkali metal hydroxide.

15. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 3 wherein the at least one flow path runs along at least four external walls of the external case.

16. The rechargeable battery transportation device according to claim 3 further comprising a granulate arranged along the at least one flow path which contains one or more of calcium hydroxide, and an alkali metal hydroxide.

Description

[0035] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by way of the attached drawings. They show

[0036] FIG. 1 a schematic view of a rechargeable battery transportation device according to the invention,

[0037] FIG. 2 a cross section along the A-A plane according to FIG. 1, and

[0038] FIG. 3 a cross section along the B-B section according to FIG. 1.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a rechargeable battery transportation device 10 according to the invention with an external case 12 and an inner tank 14. The external case 14 comprises a base body 16 and a cap 18. The cap 18 is articulated on the base body 16 such that it can be swivelled, for instance. However, it is possible that the cap 18 can be completely removed. A schematically depicted rechargeable battery 22 can be introduced into the external case 12 through a filling opening 20.

[0040] If the cap 18 is closed, it forms an air-tight seal with the base body 16. To this end, a seal 24, for example, is arranged on an upper side of the base body 26 and/or the cap 18. If the rechargeable battery 22 is damaged, gases 26 emerge. These cannot escape between the cap and the base body 16.

[0041] The base body 16 features ventilation openings 28.1, 28.2, . . . for this purpose. The gas 26 can flow along a flow path S from an accommodation space 30, through the ventilation openings 28.1, 28.2, . . . into an environment U. The accommodation space 30 is the space that is enclosed by the inner tank 14 and in which the rechargeable battery 22 is accommodated.

[0042] FIG. 2 depicts a horizontal cross-section through the rechargeable battery transportation device 10. It is clear to see that there is a gap 35 between an external side 31 of the inner tank 14 and an inner side 33 of the external case 12, wherein the flow paths S run through said gap. FIG. 2 shows that the flow paths S1, S2, . . . run along four external walls 32.1, 32.2, 32.3, 32.4.

[0043] Panels 36.1, 36.2, . . . are arranged along the inner sides of the external walls 32.i (i=1, 2, 3, 4). In the present case, the panels 36 refer to plasterboards to which a paper or cardboard layer is glued on the outward-facing side and the inward-facing side. However, the panels may be uncoated on the inward-facing side, such that the gases flowing past the panel 36 come into direct contact with the plaster.

[0044] FIG. 2 also shows that the inner tank 14 features inner tank external walls 38.1, 38.2, 38.3, 38.4. Panels 36.5, 36.6, 36.7, 36.8 made of heat absorption material are also arranged along the inner tank external walls 38.g. The flow paths Sj (S=1, 2, . . . ) are therefore bordered on two sides by panel-shaped heat absorption material. This feature characterizesindependently of other features of the inventiona preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0045] A granulate 40, which is made up of a number of granulate particles 42.1, 42.2, . . . , is arranged between the inner tank external walls 38.i and the external walls 32.i. The granulate particles in FIG. 2 are all depicted as being the same size; however, this is not necessary. In particular, it is possible for the granulate particles to have varying particle diameters. The granulate particles 42.1, 42.2, . . . are cylindrical and in the present case have a diameter of between 2 and 5 millimeters.

[0046] In the present case, the granulate is soda lime and consists of calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, an indicator and, where appropriate, excipients. The indicator may be ethyl violet, for example.

[0047] FIG. 3 depicts a further cross-section through the rechargeable battery transportation device 10 according to the invention. It is clear to see that the flow paths S5 pass an upper edge 44 of the inner tank 14 and then run downwards from the cap 18. The ventilation openings 28.i are adjacent to a base 46 of the rechargeable battery transportation device 10. It is favorable and represents a preferred embodiment if the ventilation openings 28.i are designed to be round, especially circular or oval.

[0048] In the present embodiment, the panels 36.i have a thickness of between 8 mm and 20 mm. It has been proven that thicknesses of between 11 and 14 mm are particularly practical.

[0049] FIG. 3 also depicts a lock 48, by means of which the cap 18 is kept in its closed position. For instance, the lock 48 is a snap lock which features a bracket. The bracket is fixed to a lever which snaps into its closed position. In this closed position, the bracket engages with a hook, which may be designed as a groove and designed to be situated on the cap 18.

[0050] As depicted in FIG. 3, the flow path S runs along the external walls 32.2 across a height difference H of at least one third, especially at least the half, of a height H of the external case 12. This section of the flow path S begins at the upper edge 44 and ends at the ventilation opening 28.7. This allows schematically depicted heat W to be effectively given off to the environment. It also results in a long path along the heat absorption material 36 and/or through the granulate 40. The flow path S runs down-wards over a section whose length corresponds to 0.8 times the height H.

REFERENCE LIST

[0051] 10 rechargeable battery transportation device [0052] 12 external case [0053] 14 inner wall [0054] 16 base body [0055] 18 cap [0056] 20 inlet opening [0057] 22 rechargeable battery [0058] 24 seal [0059] 26 gas [0060] 28 ventilation opening [0061] 30 accommodation space [0062] 31 outer side of the inner tank [0063] 32 external wall [0064] 33 inner side of the external case [0065] 34 external wall [0066] 35 gap [0067] 36 panel [0068] 38 inner tank external wall [0069] 40 granulate [0070] 42 granulate particle [0071] 44 upper edge [0072] 46 base [0073] 48 lock [0074] S flow path [0075] U environment [0076] W heat