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EP-4737776-A1 - VENTING UNIT

EP4737776A1EP 4737776 A1EP4737776 A1EP 4737776A1EP-4737776-A1

Abstract

A valve (1) comprising a) a valve-housing (1.1) with a center axis (C) and with a gas channel (1.4); b) a sealing surface (1.2) c) a valve body (2) to open and to close the channel, and d) a gasket (2.4) arranged on the valve body (2) whereby e) the valve comprises at least one pair_T1 of electrical contacts; f) and at least one electroconductive elastomer body (2.4), said body (2.4) being deformable, g) depending on the axial position_Pv of the body (2) said pair_T1 are electrically contactable i) through the body (2.4), ii) with each other; h) one of i) at least two different axial positions_Pv of the body (2) or ii) a deformation of said body (2.4) is detectable

Inventors

  • Ratajczack, Christelle

Assignees

  • MoldTecs-01-2022 GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20250417

Claims (14)

  1. A valve (1) for mounting on an electrochemical device housing (5) for venting and degassing the electrochemical device housing (5), the valve (1) comprising a) a valve-housing (1.1) with a center axis (C) and with a gas channel (1.4); b) a sealing surface (1.2) coaxial with the center axis (C); c) a valve body (2) arranged in the gas channel (1.4), the valve body (2) being movable along the center axis (C) to open and to close the channel, positionable in different axial positions_Pv, said valve body (2) is preloaded by means of at least one elastic element (2.3) for forcing the valve body (2) in at least one axial position_Pv1, in which the channel is closable and d) a gasket (2.4) arranged on the valve body (2) applicable to contact the sealing surface (1.2) for closing the gas channel (1.4), characterized in that : e) the valve (1) comprises at least one pair_T1, _T2 of electrical contacts (6.1, 6.2, 4.1, 4.2) and f) at least one electroconductive elastomer body (2.4, 4), said elastomer body (2.4, 4) being deformable depending on the axial position_Pv of the valve body (2), g) depending on the axial position_Pv of the valve body (2) said pair_T1, _T2 of electrical contacts (6.1, 6.2, 4.1, 4.2) are electrically contactable i) through the electroconductive elastomer body (2.4, 4), ii) with each other; h) one of i) at least two different axial positions_Pv of the valve body (2) or ii) a deformation of said electroconductive elastomer body (2.4, 4). is detectable.
  2. A valve (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said gasket (2.4) is an electroconductive elastomer body or said gasket (2.4) is at least partly composed of an electroconductive elastomer and said gasket (2.4) electrically interacts with said pair_T1 of electrical contacts (6.1, 6.2).
  3. A valve (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said electrical contacts (6.1, 6.2) are applied to said sealing surface (1.2) and said gasket (2.4) electrically interacts with said electrical contacts (6.1, 6.2) in said closed axial Position_Pv1 of said valve body (2).
  4. A valve (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that there are several pairs_T1, _T2 of electrical contacts (6.1, 6.2) distributed in circumferential direction on said sealing surface (1.2).
  5. A valve (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said electroconductive elastomer body (4) is fixed on an outer surface (2.5) of said valve body (2) whereby said pair_T2 of electrical contacts (4.1, 4.2) are applied on a contact surface (1.6) of said valve-housing (1.1), whereby said elastomer body (1.6) and said electrical contacts (4.1, 4.2) electrically interacts in a closed or at least partly opened axial position_Pv1, _Pv2 of the valve body (2).
  6. A valve (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that there are several pairs_T2 of electrical contacts (4.1, 4.2) distributed in circumferential direction on said contact surface (1.6).
  7. A valve (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said elastomer body (2.4, 4) touches said surface (1.2, 1.6) with a linearly contact-zone (6.4), whereby at least one pair_T1, _T2 of electrical contacts (6.1, 6.2, 4.1, 4.2) is contactable via said elastomer body (2.4, 4).
  8. A Valve (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that there is an upper wall section (1.3) of said valve-housing (1.1) and a sensing device (7), said sensing device (7) is integrated in said upper wall section (1.3), said device (7) comprising said pair_T1 of electrical contacts (7.1, 7.2, 7.3), wherein at least one of the electrical contacts (7.1) is configured as an electroconductive elastomer body that undergoes a deformation due to said axial position_Pv of the valve body (2), whereby said deformation goes along with an electrical connection between said electrical contacts (7.1, 7.2, 7.3).
  9. A valve (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said device (7) is used for mounting said elastic element (2.3), whereby the force of said elastic element (2.3) generated by an at least partly opened axial position_Pv2, _Pv3 of said valve body (2) goes along with a deformation of said elastomer body (7.1) and with an electrical connection between said electrical contacts (7.1, 7.3).
  10. A valve (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said electrical contact (7.1) has a stop-head (7.1a) for said valve body (2) in a fully opened axial position_Pv3, whereby said position_Pv3 of said valve body (2) goes along with a deformation of said stop-head ( 7.1a ) of elastomer body (7.1) and with an electrical connection between said electrical contacts (7.1, 7.2).
  11. A valve (1) according to any one of the claims 8 to 10, characterized in that said device (7) is made of at least six components (7.1 - 7-6), whereby one is a cathode (7.1), two are anodes (7.2, 7.3) and three of them are electric insulators (7.4 - 7.6), whereby two insulators (7.4, 7.5) are placed between said cathode (7.1) and the corresponding anode (7.2, 7.3) and one insulator (7.6) is placed between said cathode (7.1) and said housing (1.1).
  12. A valve (1) according to any of the preceding claims in the function of a venting unit.
  13. An alert system (8) which integrates a valve (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
  14. An electrochemical device housing (5) which integrates an alert system (8) according to claim 13 or a valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 12.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD There are venting units or customized valves for mounting on an electrochemical device and for venting and degassing. The valve comprises a valve-housing forming a central gas channel. The central gas channel extends preferred over the entire length of the housing. The valve further comprises a valve body arranged in the gas channel with the valve body being preloaded by means of at least one elastic element positioned on top of the valve body for generating a closing force. The valve body has at least one gas opening, which is sealed by a membrane, permeable to gaseous media. The invention relates to a valve for mounting on an electrochemical device housing for venting and degassing said electrochemical device housing, the valve comprising a) a valve-housing with a center axis and with a gas channel;b) a sealing surface coaxial with the center axis to open and to close the channel;c) a valve body arranged in the gas channel, the valve body being movable along the center axis, positionable in different axial positions_Pv, said valve body is preloaded by means of at least one elastic element for forcing the valve body in at least one axial position_Pv1 in which the channel is closable andd) a gasket arranged on the valve body applicable in contact to the sealing surface for closing the gas channel in the Position_Pv1 of the valve body. The state of the art, DE 2019 100 085 A1, describes a valve for mounting on an electrochemical device housing for venting and degassing with a valve body, the valve body having one electrical contact with said housing for detecting two different axial positions of the valve body. EP 3,840,083 A1 describes a valve for mounting on an electrochemical device housing for venting and degassing with an electroconductive valve body, the valve body closing two electrical contact zones of said housing for detecting two different axial positions of the valve body. BACKGROUND Typical housings for receiving electronic components, such as e. battery cells, cannot be hermetically sealed due to temperature fluctuations and due to occurring gas fluctuations between the interior of the housing and the environment. This gas exchange must be feasible in order to prevent bursting or bulging of said housing. For this reason, there are ventilation systems. A ventilation system including a valve has also the function to prevent the penetration of dirt, moisture or water. Therefore, valves are known comprising semipermeable membranes that are gas-permeable but liquid-impermeable to enable a ventilation. In addition to such a ventilation, such valves must provide emergency degassing of the housing. In case of a pressure peak, for example upon failure of a battery cell, this pressure must be released as quickly as possible because otherwise the housing might become damaged. Therefore, movable valve bodies are additionally used for carrying the membrane. In case of a sudden overpressure the valve body is movable for opening the housing for degassing. The increased pressure causes the valve body to be lifted against its preload of the elastic element. As soon as the pressure drops to a certain level, the valve body moves back into the closed position. In the description, reference is made to the center axis_C of the housing as basis for defining all other directions. Every other direction, i.e. X, Y, axial, radial, circumferential, coaxial or parallel is in relation to said center axis C. The same applies for positions. It is an object of the present invention to improve the sensitivity of an alert system for a venting unit and to improve the durability of the sensors for detecting. According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is solved by the features that e) the valve comprises at least one pair_T1 of electrical contacts;f) and at least one electroconductive elastomer body, said elastomer body being deformable depending on the axial position_Pv of the valve body,g) depending on said axial position_Pv said pair_T1 of electrical contacts are electrically contactable i) through the electroconductive elastomer body,ii) with each other;h) one of i) at least two different axial positions_Pv of the valve body orii) a deformation of said electroconductive elastomer body is detectable. The necessary electrical contacts and their electrical contacts are easily applicable on the housing in form of an integrated solution with minor modifications, one or more electroconductive elastomer bodies as well. Electroconductive elastomer bodies and simple electrical contacts, i.e. contact surfaces or contact points, are resistant to probable environmental conditions. According to another aspect of the invention it can also be advantageous, if said gasket is an electroconductive elastomer body or said gasket is at least partly composed of an electroconductive elastomer and said gasket electrically interacts with said pair_T1 of electrical contacts. As regards the sealing principle elastomer body n