Venting Unit and Housing, in Particular Battery Housing

Abstract

A venting unit for a housing has a base body to be connected fluid-tightly to an edge of a housing opening of the housing. The base body has an exterior side and an inner side. The base body has a gas passage opening and a rim surrounding it. A membrane areally spans the gas passage opening transversely to an axial direction of the base body. The membrane is connected fluid-tightly to the base body at the rim of the base body and is arranged at the inner side of the base body. A clamping frame is connected to the base body at the inner side in a region radially outside of the rim of the base body. The clamping frame has a circumferentially extending clamping surface exerting a clamping force on the membrane to hold the membrane with friction fit between clamping frame and rim of the base body.

Claims

1. A venting unit for a housing, the venting unit comprising: a base body configured to be connected fluid-tightly to an edge of a housing opening of the housing, wherein the base body comprises an exterior side and an inner side, wherein the base body further comprises at least one gas passage opening and a rim surrounding the at least one gas passage opening; a membrane areally spanned across the at least one gas passage opening transversely to an axial direction of the base body, wherein the membrane is connected fluid-tightly to the base body at the rim of the base body, and wherein the membrane is arranged at the inner side of the base body; a clamping frame connected to the base body at the inner side of the base body in a region located radially outside of the rim of the base body; the clamping frame comprising a circumferentially extending clamping surface configured to exert a clamping force on the membrane to hold the membrane with friction fit between the clamping frame and the rim of the base body.

2. The venting unit according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is held exclusively with friction fit between the clamping frame and the rim of the base body.

3. The venting unit according to claim 1, wherein the clamping frame is connected at least in regions thereof with material fusion to the base body.

4. The venting unit according to claim 1, wherein the clamping force is introduced directly into the membrane.

5. The venting unit according to claim 1, wherein the clamping force is introduced indirectly into the membrane.

6. The venting unit according to claim 1, wherein the clamping force is introduced indirectly into the membrane by a seal.

7. The venting unit according to claim 6, wherein the seal is arranged between the clamping frame and the membrane or is arranged between the membrane and the base body.

8. The venting unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one gas passage opening is covered completely by the membrane.

9. The venting unit according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is a gas-impermeable membrane.

10. The venting unit according to claim 9, wherein the gas-impermeable membrane is a polymer film.

11. The venting unit according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is a semipermeable membrane that enables a passage of gaseous media from an environment into the housing and in reverse and that prevents a passage of liquid media and/or solids therethrough.

12. The venting unit according to claim 1, wherein the clamping frame is welded or glued to the base body.

13. The venting unit according to claim 1, wherein the clamping frame comprises a radially projecting flange region comprising an axial surface, wherein the clamping frame is welded or glued to the base body across the axial surface of the radially projecting flange region.

14. The venting unit according to claim 13, wherein the clamping surface is arranged radially inside of the radially projecting flange region.

15. The venting unit according to claim 13, wherein the radially projecting flange region and the clamping surface of the clamping frame are arranged axially displaced relative to each other.

16. The venting unit according to claim 1, wherein the base body comprises an axial recess in relation to the rim of the base body, wherein the clamping frame is material-fused to the axial recess.

17. The venting unit according to claim 16, wherein the axial recess is arranged displaced radially outwardly in relation to the rim of the base body.

18. The venting unit according to claim 1, further comprising a housing seal arranged at the inner side of the base body and circumferentially surrounding the at least one gas passage opening.

19. The venting unit according to claim 1, further comprising a cover arranged on the exterior side of the base body, wherein the cover comprises at least one venting opening.

20. The venting unit according to claim 1, further comprising a spike carrier arranged between the membrane and the cover, wherein the spike carrier comprises an emergency venting spike oriented toward the membrane, wherein the emergency venting spike is configured to penetrate the membrane when the membrane bulges in the direction toward the exterior side due to a housing inner pressure.

21. The venting unit according to claim 20, wherein the emergency venting spike is integrated in the base body or integrated in the clamping frame or integrated in the cover.

22. The venting unit according to claim 1, further comprising a protective grid arranged at the inner side of the base body, wherein the base body is fixedly connected to the protective grid or the protective grid is integrated in the base body.

23. A housing comprising: at least one housing wall with a housing opening; the venting unit according to claim 1 arranged at the least one housing wall and closing the housing opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Further advantages result from the following drawing description. In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person of skill in the art will expediently consider the features also individually and combine them to further expedient combinations. The Figures show embodiments in exemplary fashion.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a venting unit according to an embodiment of the invention from an exterior side.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the venting unit according to FIG. 1 from an inner side.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows the isometric view from the inner side of the venting unit according to FIG. 1 with removed protective grid.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows an isometric section view of the venting unit according to FIG. 1 with the base body in half-section.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows the isometric section view according to FIG. 4 of the venting unit with sectioned seal.

[0053] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section through the venting unit according to FIG. 1.

[0054] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged longitudinal section of the venting unit according to FIG. 1 in the region of the clamping action of the membrane.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0055] In the Figures, same or same-type components are identified with same reference characters. The Figures show only examples and are not to be understood as limiting.

[0056] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a venting unit 10 for a housing 20, in particular of a battery, in particular of a traction battery of a motor vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention from an exterior side 18 while in FIG. 2 an isometric view of the venting unit 10 from an inner side 17 can be seen. FIG. 3 shows the isometric view of the venting unit 10 from the inner side 17 with removed protective grid 70.

[0057] Details of the venting unit 10 can be seen in FIG. 4 with an isometric section view with half-sectioned base body 12 as well as in FIG. 5 with an isometric section view with sectioned seal 32, In FIG. 6, a longitudinal section of the venting unit 10 is illustrated. FIG. 7 shows in this context an enlarged longitudinal section of the venting unit 10 in the region of the clamping action of the membrane 30.

[0058] The venting unit 10 comprises a base body 12, with an exterior side 18 and an inner side 17, that can be connected fluid-tightly to an edge of a housing opening 24 of the housing 20 (schematically illustrated in FIG. 6 in longitudinal section).

[0059] The venting unit 10 comprises moreover a gas passage opening 15 (see FIG. 6) which is closed by a membrane 30 that is areally spanned across transversely to an axial direction L. The gas passage opening 15 is covered completely by the membrane 30 in this context. The membrane 30 is located at the inner side 17 of the base body 12.

[0060] The membrane 30 is fluid-tightly connected to the base body 12 at the rim 14 surrounding the gas passage opening 15.

[0061] The membrane 30 can be embodied as a gas-impermeable membrane, in particular as a polymer film.

[0062] Alternatively, it is however also possible that the membrane 30 is embodied as a semipermeable membrane which enables a passage of gaseous media from an environment into the housing 10 and in reverse and prevents the passage of liquid media and/or solids.

[0063] A clamping frame 40 is connected to the base body 12 in a region 16 that is located radially outwardly of the rim 14 surrounding the gas passage opening 15. The clamping frame 40 comprises a circumferentially extending clamping surface 42 that exerts a clamping force on the membrane 30. In this way, the membrane 30 is held exclusively with friction fit between the clamping frame 40 and the rim 14 of the base body 12 surrounding the gas passage opening 15.

[0064] The clamping frame 40 is connected by material fusion to the base body 12. Preferably, the clamping frame 40 can be welded to the base body, in particular by ultrasonic welding. However, also other fastening types such as locking or gluing to the base body 12 are conceivable.

[0065] The clamping force is introduced in the illustrated embodiment indirectly by a seal 32 into the membrane 30. In this way, a more uniform clamping force across the clamping surface 42 is achieved. Alternatively, the membrane 30 can also be clamped directly by the clamping frame 40 against the base body 12.

[0066] In this case, the seal 32 is arranged between membrane 30 and base body 12. Alternatively, it is also possible that the seal 32 is arranged between the clamping frame 40 and the membrane 30.

[0067] At the exterior side 18 of the base body 12, a cover 50 is arranged which comprises four venting openings 52.

[0068] Between the membrane 30 and the cover 50, a spike carrier 62 is arranged with an emergency venting spike 60 which is provided for penetrating the membrane 30 which bulges in the direction toward the exterior side 18 due to a housing inner pressure. The emergency venting spike 60 in this embodiment is integrated via the spike carrier 62 in the base body 12. Alternatively, the emergency venting spike 60 can also be integrated in the clamping frame 40 or in the cover 50.

[0069] The base body 12 is fixedly connected to a protective grid 70 arranged at its inner side 17, as is illustrated in particular in FIG. 2. In this context, the protective grid 70 is welded by weld points 72 to the base body 12, for example, by ultrasonic welding. In an alternative embodiment, the protective grid 70 can also be integrated directly in the base body 12 however.

[0070] The base body 12 comprises moreover at its corners four fastening lugs 80 in which insertion sleeves 82 are integrated. By means of these fastening lugs 80, the venting unit 10 can be connected to the housing 20, for example, screwed on.

[0071] A housing seal 26 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is arranged so as to extend circumferentially about the gas passage opening 15 at the inner side 17 of the base body 12 and serves for sealing the venting unit 10 against the housing wall 22. A control regarding the presence of the housing seal 26 when the venting unit 10 is mounted is provided by the external conspicuous visible tab 28 of the housing seal 26.

[0072] As can be seen in the longitudinal sections in FIG. 6 and in particular in FIG. 7, the clamping frame 40 comprises a radially projecting flange region 44 and the welding or gluing action to the region 16 of the base body 12 is realized across its axial surface. In this context, the clamping surface 42 of the clamping frame 40 is radially inwardly arranged relative to the flange region 44. The radially projecting flange region 44 and the clamping surface 42 of the clamping frame 40 are arranged axially displaced.

[0073] The base body 12 comprises an axial recess 19 in relation to the rim 14 surrounding the gas passage opening 15 at which the membrane 30 is fluid-tightly arranged. At this axial recess 19, the clamping frame 40 is arranged material-fused. The axial recess 19 is displaced radially outwardly relative to the rim 14 surrounding the gas passage opening 15.

[0074] In the longitudinal section in FIG. 6, a part of the housing 20 is illustrated schematically as a housing wall 22 with a housing opening 24. The housing opening 24 is closed by the venting unit 10 in this context.

[0075] The venting unit 10 is sealed against the housing wall 22 with the housing seal 26 which is inserted into a circumferentially extending sealing groove 13 at the outer edge of the base body 12.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0076] 10 venting unit [0077] 12 base body [0078] 13 sealing groove [0079] 14 rim [0080] 15 gas passage opening [0081] 16 region [0082] 17 inner side [0083] 18 exterior side [0084] 19 axial recess [0085] 20 housing [0086] 22 housing wall [0087] 24 housing opening [0088] 26 housing seal [0089] 28 visible tab of housing seal [0090] 30 membrane [0091] 32 seal [0092] 40 clamping frame [0093] 42 clamping surface [0094] 44 flange region [0095] 50 cover [0096] 52 venting opening [0097] 60 emergency venting spike [0098] 62 spike carrier [0099] 70 protective grid [0100] 72 weld point [0101] 80 fastening lug [0102] 82 insertion sleeve [0103] L axial direction