CN219917478U - Protective device, power battery pack and electric equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides a protection device, a power battery pack and electric equipment, and relates to the technical field of power batteries. The protection device comprises: the protective structure is configured to be distributed along the front-rear direction, and is provided with a plurality of mounting areas; the guide structure is disposed inside the installation region to form a first state, and when thermal runaway occurs, the guide structure moves in a left-right direction with respect to the shielding structure such that the guide structure is located outside the installation region to form a second state. The guide structure is arranged at the installation area of the protective structure, and when the product is in normal operation, the guide structure is positioned in the installation area to form a first state, when the product is in thermal runaway, high-temperature and high-pressure gas sprayed by the product can enter the guide structure and push the guide structure to move relative to the protective structure, so that at least part of the structure of the guide structure is positioned at the outer side of the installation area, the guide of the high-temperature and high-pressure gas is realized, and the thermal runaway protective function is realized.

Description

Protective device, power battery pack and electric equipment

Technical Field

The utility model relates to the technical field of power batteries, in particular to a protection device, a power battery pack and electric equipment.

Background

In recent years, electric vehicles are becoming popular due to policy driving and industry technology upgrading, and accordingly power battery safety problems are becoming important, particularly thermal runaway safety protection of batteries is becoming a technical difficulty to be overcome in various host factories and battery factories.

There are two main types of thermal runaway protection at this stage: the first method for increasing the thermal runaway protective material to inhibit the thermal spread has the problem of high cost, and has limited protective effect and poor protective performance under a high-nickel ternary lithium battery system; secondly, when the battery is in thermal runaway, how to smoothly discharge the smoke generated by the cell spray valve is studied so as to control the secondary spread of the thermal runaway of the battery.

Disclosure of Invention

The utility model aims to provide a protection device, a power battery pack and electric equipment, which can smoothly guide high-temperature and high-pressure gas into an exhaust channel to play a role in protecting thermal runaway.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical scheme:

in a first aspect, the present utility model provides a guard comprising: a guard structure configured to be distributed in a front-rear direction, the guard structure being provided with a plurality of mounting areas; and a guide structure which is disposed inside the installation region to form a first state, and which moves in a left-right direction with respect to the guard structure when thermal runaway occurs, such that at least part of the structure of the guide structure is located outside the installation region to form a second state.

In the process of the realization, the guide structure is arranged at the installation area of the protective structure, and when the product is in normal operation, the guide structure is positioned in the installation area to form a first state, when the product is in thermal runaway, the high-temperature and high-pressure air sprayed by the product can enter the guide structure and push the guide structure to move relative to the protective structure, so that at least part of the structure of the guide structure is positioned at the outer side of the installation area, thereby realizing the guide of the high-temperature and high-pressure air and playing the thermal runaway protective function.

In some embodiments, the guiding structure comprises a guiding component and an elastic piece, wherein the guiding component is provided with a guiding cavity along the left-right direction, one end of the elastic piece is connected with the guiding component, the other end of the elastic piece is connected with the protecting structure, and when the guiding structure is in the first state, the elastic piece is in a compressed state.

In the process of the realization, the elastic piece is respectively connected with the guide component and the protection structure, when the guide structure is in a first state, the elastic piece is compressed, and when thermal runaway occurs, high-temperature and high-pressure gas sprayed by the elastic piece can enter the guide cavity of the guide component, and under the action of the high-temperature and high-pressure gas, the elastic piece is released, so that the guide component moves left and right relative to the protection structure, the guide of the high-temperature and high-pressure gas is realized, and the thermal runaway protection function is realized.

In some embodiments, the guide assembly includes a guide and a constraint on the same side of the guide as the elastic member, one end of the constraint is connected to the guide and the other end is connected to the guard structure, and the guide structure forms the second state when the constraint is disconnected.

In the process of the realization, one end of the constraint piece is connected with the guide piece, and the other end of the constraint piece is connected with the protection structure, so that the product is in a normal condition, the guide piece is positioned in the installation area through the constraint action of the constraint piece, and when thermal runaway occurs, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas sprayed by the constraint piece fuses the constraint piece, so that the guide piece moves to the outer side of the installation area along the left-right direction under the action of the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and the elastic piece again, the guide of the high-temperature and high-pressure gas is realized, and the function of thermal runaway protection is achieved.

In some embodiments, the guide includes a guide portion and an abutment portion, one end of the abutment portion is connected to the guide portion, the other end is connected to the constraint member, and a cross-sectional dimension of the guide portion is smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the mounting region, and a cross-sectional dimension of the abutment portion is larger than a cross-sectional dimension of the mounting region. Through setting the guide part to be less than the installation region, the butt portion sets to be greater than the installation region for when the product takes place thermal runaway, the guide part can remove the outside to the installation region, and butt portion carries out the butt with the installation region, is in airtight environment when guaranteeing high temperature high pressure gas through the guide chamber of guide part, can avoid gas to scurry, forms the risk of secondary thermal runaway, has reduced thermal runaway probability.

In some embodiments, the guide cavity of the guide is provided with a blanking cover. Through set up the blanking cover in the guide part, can guarantee that the product during operation is in airtight environment all the time, avoid influencing the product work, when the product takes place thermal runaway, the high temperature high-pressure gas of its injection can explode the blanking cover, and then realizes the guide to gas, plays thermal runaway protection's function.

In a second aspect, the present utility model also provides a power battery pack comprising: a housing device provided with a housing chamber; and a guard device according to any one of the above, wherein the guard device is disposed in the accommodating chamber, and the guard device forms a gap with a side wall of the case device.

In the process of the realization, the protection device is arranged in the accommodating cavity of the box body device at intervals, so that when the product is in thermal runaway, the protection structure can be stretched out along the left-right direction by the guide structure of the protection device, and then the high-temperature and high-pressure gas sprayed by the protection device can be smoothly discharged to the device scaring position along the inside of the guide structure, so that the gas is ensured not to leak, and the risk of secondary thermal runaway is avoided.

In some embodiments, the case device is provided with a plurality of discharge holes in a front-rear direction, and a side wall of the case device is provided with a discharge cavity communicating with the discharge holes, the discharge holes being configured to correspond to a mounting region of the guard device.

In the process of the realization, the box device is provided with the discharge hole and the discharge cavity communicated with the discharge hole, so that when the product is in thermal runaway, the injected high-temperature high-pressure gas can fuse the constraint part of the protection device, and then under the action of the gas and the elastic part, the guiding structure of the push protection device moves to the discharge hole, and at the moment, the gas enters the discharge cavity, so that the high-temperature high-pressure gas injected by the product can be ensured to be always in a closed environment, the gas is prevented from flowing in the box device, the probability of secondary thermal runaway risk is reduced, the function of thermal runaway protection is played, and the reliability is improved.

In some embodiments, the cross-sectional dimension of the drain hole is smaller than the cross-sectional dimension of the guide portion of the guard such that the guide structure of the guard abuts at the drain hole when the guard is in the second state. Through setting the discharge hole to be less than the guiding part for when the product takes place thermal runaway, its protector's guide structure can remove to discharge hole department to rather than carrying out the butt, guarantee that the high temperature high pressure gas that the product was spouted is in airtight environment all the time, avoid gaseous at the inside of box device to scurry, reduce the probability of secondary thermal runaway risk, thereby play thermal runaway protection's function, improved the reliability.

In some embodiments, the power battery pack further includes a plurality of electric cores, the electric cores are configured in the accommodating cavity, the electric cores are located at one side of the protection device, the discharge hole of the box device is located at the other side of the protection device, and the explosion-proof valve of the electric cores corresponds to the installation area of the protection device. Through set up protector between the explosion-proof valve of discharge port and electric core, can ensure that the high temperature high pressure gas that electric core jetted out is in sealed environment all the time, reduce the probability of secondary thermal runaway risk to play the function of thermal runaway protection, improved the reliability.

In a third aspect, the present utility model also provides a powered device, including a power battery pack as described in any one of the above.

The electric equipment provided by the embodiment of the third aspect of the present utility model includes the power battery pack described in the technical scheme of the second aspect, so that all technical effects of the above embodiment are achieved, and are not described herein.

Additional features and advantages of the utility model will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the embodiments of the utility model. The objectives and other advantages of the utility model will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims thereof as well as the appended drawings.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present utility model, the drawings that are needed in the embodiments will be briefly described below, it being understood that the following drawings only illustrate some embodiments of the present utility model and should not be considered as limiting the scope, and that other related drawings can be obtained according to these drawings without inventive effort for the users of the art.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural view of a protection device according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a shield apparatus as disclosed in an embodiment of the present utility model.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another state of a shielding device according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

Fig. 4 is a schematic structural view of a power battery pack according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a power cell pack according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

Reference numerals

100. A protective structure; 200. a guide structure; 201. a guide; 202. a restraint; 203. an elastic member; 204. a blanking cover; 300. a case device; 301. a discharge hole; 302. and discharging the cavity.

Detailed Description

For the purpose of making the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present utility model more apparent, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model, and it is apparent that the described embodiments are some embodiments of the present utility model, but not all embodiments of the present utility model. The components of the embodiments of the present utility model generally described and illustrated in the figures herein may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.

Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the utility model, as presented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the utility model, as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the utility model. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments that a user of ordinary skill in the art could achieve without inventive effort are within the scope of the present utility model.

It should be noted that: like reference numerals and letters denote like items in the following figures, and thus once an item is defined in one figure, no further definition or explanation thereof is necessary in the following figures.

In the description of the present utility model, it should be noted that, directions or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., are directions or positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, or are directions or positional relationships conventionally put in use of the inventive product, are merely for convenience of describing the present utility model and simplifying the description, and are not indicative or implying that the apparatus or element to be referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and thus should not be construed as limiting the present utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," and the like are used merely to distinguish between descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

Furthermore, the terms "horizontal," "vertical," and the like do not denote a requirement that the component be absolutely horizontal or overhang, but rather may be slightly inclined. As "horizontal" merely means that its direction is more horizontal than "vertical", and does not mean that the structure must be perfectly horizontal, but may be slightly inclined.

In the description of the present utility model, it should also be noted that, unless explicitly specified and limited otherwise, the terms "disposed," "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, and may be, for example, fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected; can be mechanically or electrically connected; can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and can be communication between two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present utility model can be understood in specific cases for users of ordinary skill in the art.

Examples

Energy conservation and emission reduction are key to sustainable development of the automobile industry, and electric vehicles become an important component of sustainable development of the automobile industry due to the energy conservation and environmental protection advantages of the electric vehicles; for electric vehicles, battery technology is an important factor in the development of the electric vehicles. In addition to the improvement of the energy density of the battery, the improvement of the safety of the battery is a non-negligible problem in the development of battery technology.

As shown in fig. 1-5, in a first aspect, the present utility model provides a guard comprising: a guard structure 100 configured to be distributed in a front-rear direction, and the guard structure 100 is provided with a plurality of mounting areas; and a guide structure 200 disposed inside the installation region to form a first state, and when thermal runaway occurs, the guide structure 200 moves in a left-right direction with respect to the shielding structure 100 such that at least part of the structure of the guide structure 200 is located outside the installation region to form a second state.

In the utility model, the protection device can be applied to scenes such as a power battery pack, and the power battery pack is taken as an example, the protection device can be a part of a wire harness isolation plate in the power battery pack, can also be of an independent structure, can adopt materials such as an epoxy resin composite material or a mica sheet composite material for ensuring insulativity and safety and playing a role of heat insulation, and can adopt materials such as a high temperature resistant and insulation resistant material, and the like, and meanwhile, the protection device is required to have the water absorption rate of less than 0.1 percent in order to avoid insulation faults caused by volatilization, corrosion, defect and other phenomena caused by cold and heat shrinkage of the protection device.

It should be noted that, the protection structure 100 is provided with a plurality of installation areas, and the installation areas are spaced apart from each other along the front-rear direction, and when the guiding structure 200 is in the first state, the guiding structure 200 may be completely contained in the installation area or may be partially contained in the installation area; when the guiding structure 200 is in the second state, it should be ensured that a part of the guiding structure 200 is attached to the mounting area, so as to ensure that the high-temperature and high-pressure gas is always in a closed environment when passing through the protection device.

In the above-mentioned implementation process, the guide structure 200 is disposed at the installation area of the protection structure 100, and when the product is in normal operation, the guide structure 200 is disposed inside the installation area to form a first state, when the product is in thermal runaway, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas ejected by the product will enter the inside of the guide structure 200, and the guide structure 200 is pushed to move relative to the protection structure 100, so that at least part of the structure of the guide structure 200 is disposed outside the installation area, thereby realizing the guide of the high-temperature and high-pressure gas, and playing a thermal runaway protection function.

As shown in fig. 1, the guiding structure 200 includes a guiding component and an elastic member 203, where the elastic member 203 includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of elastic members 203 may be disposed along a periphery of the guiding component, and a specific number of the elastic members may be flexibly changed according to practical needs, where the guiding component is provided with a guiding cavity along a left-right direction, one end of the elastic member 203 is connected with the guiding component, the other end of the elastic member 203 is connected with the protecting structure 100, and when the guiding structure 200 is in the first state, the elastic member 203 is in a compressed state.

In the above implementation process, the elastic member 203 is connected to the guide assembly and the protection structure 100 respectively, when the guide structure 200 is in the first state, the elastic member 203 is compressed, and when thermal runaway occurs, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas ejected by the elastic member enters the guide cavity of the guide assembly, and under the effect of the high-temperature and high-pressure gas, the elastic member 203 is released, so that the guide assembly moves in the left-right direction relative to the protection structure 100, the guide of the high-temperature and high-pressure gas is realized, and the thermal runaway protection function is played.

As shown in fig. 3, the guiding assembly includes a guiding member 201 and a restraining member 202, the restraining member 202 and the elastic member 203 are located on the same side of the guiding member 201, one end of the restraining member 202 is connected to the guiding member 201, the other end of the restraining member is connected to the protecting structure 100, and when the restraining member 202 is disconnected, the guiding structure 200 forms the second state, that is, when the product is in normal operation, the guiding member 201 is connected to the protecting structure 100 through the restraining member 202, at this time, the elastic member 203 is in a compressed state, when the product is in thermal runaway, the high-temperature and high-pressure air sprayed by the elastic member can blow the restraining member 202, and the guiding member 201 moves to the outside of the protecting structure 100 along the left-right direction under the action of the elastic member 203, so as to form the second state, wherein the second state is a state in which the guiding assembly discharges the high-temperature and high-pressure air after the product is in thermal runaway.

In the above implementation process, one end of the constraint member 202 is connected with the guide member 201, and the other end of the constraint member is connected with the protection structure 100, so that the guide member 201 is located in the installation area under normal conditions through the constraint action of the constraint member 202, and when thermal runaway occurs, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas sprayed by the constraint member will fuse the constraint member 202, so that the guide member 201 moves to the outer side of the installation area along the left-right direction under the action of the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and the elastic member 203, and further the guide of the high-temperature and high-pressure gas is realized, and the thermal runaway protection function is achieved.

In some embodiments, the guide 201 includes a guide portion and an abutment portion, the guide portion and the abutment portion are integrally formed, one end of the abutment portion is connected to the guide portion, the other end is connected to the restraint 202, and the cross-sectional dimension of the guide portion is smaller than the cross-sectional dimension of the mounting area, and the cross-sectional dimension of the abutment portion is larger than the cross-sectional dimension of the mounting area. Through setting the guide part to be less than the installation region, the butt portion sets to be greater than the installation region for when the product takes place thermal runaway, the guide part can remove the outside to the installation region, and butt portion carries out the butt with the installation region, is in airtight environment when guaranteeing high temperature high pressure gas through the guide chamber of guide part, can avoid gas to scurry, forms the risk of secondary thermal runaway, has reduced thermal runaway probability.

In some embodiments, the guiding cavity of the guiding portion is provided with a plugging cover 204, wherein the plugging cover 204 includes, but is not limited to, an explosion-proof membrane, the plugging cover 204 and the guiding portion are formed by injection molding, and the explosion pressure of the plugging cover 204 can be set to be not more than 40Kpa. Through set up blanking cover 204 in the guide part, can guarantee that the product during operation is in airtight environment all the time, avoid influencing the product work, when the product takes place thermal runaway, the high temperature high-pressure gas of its injection can explode blanking cover 204, and then realizes the guide to gas, plays thermal runaway protection's function.

As shown in fig. 4 to 5, in a second aspect, the present utility model further provides a power battery pack including: a case device 300 provided with a housing chamber; and the guard device is configured in the accommodating cavity, and forms a gap with the side wall of the box device 300. Wherein in order to ensure the stability of the overall structure of the power battery pack, the case device 300 is provided in a frame shape such that the accommodating chamber has a plurality of sub-accommodating spaces, each of which is provided with the protecting device

In the above-mentioned realization process, the protector interval sets up in the holding chamber of box device 300 for when the product takes place thermal runaway, the guard structure 100 can be stretched out along left and right directions to guard structure 200, and then its high temperature high-pressure gas that sprays can be discharged smoothly to frightening your device department along the inside of guard structure 200, ensures that gas does not reveal, avoids gas to scurry in disorder in the inside of box device 300, forms the risk of secondary thermal runaway.

As shown in fig. 5, the case device 300 is provided with a plurality of discharge holes 301 in the front-rear direction, and a side wall of the case device 300 is provided with a discharge cavity 302 communicating with the discharge holes 301, the discharge holes 301 being configured to correspond to the installation area of the guard. It will be appreciated that when the battery cell is thermally out of control, the guide structure 200 is in the second state, and the guide cavity of the guide structure 200 and the discharge cavity 302 may form an explosion-proof exhaust channel, where the explosion-proof exhaust channel is a closed space.

In the process of the implementation, the box device 300 is provided with the discharge hole 301 and the discharge cavity 302 communicated with the discharge hole 301, so that when the product is in thermal runaway, the injected high-temperature and high-pressure gas can fuse the restraint member 202 of the protection device, and then under the action of the gas and the elastic member 203, the guiding structure 200 of the pushing protection device moves to the discharge hole 301, and at the moment, the gas enters into the discharge cavity 302, so that the high-temperature and high-pressure gas injected by the product can be ensured to be always in a closed environment, the gas is prevented from being mixed in the box device 300, the probability of secondary thermal runaway risk is reduced, the thermal runaway protection function is played, and the reliability is improved.

In some embodiments, the cross-sectional dimension of the discharge aperture 301 is smaller than the cross-sectional dimension of the guide portion of the guard such that the guide structure 200 of the guard abuts at the discharge aperture 301 when the guard is in the second state. Through setting discharge hole 301 to be less than the guiding part for when the product takes place thermal runaway, its protector's guide structure 200 can remove discharge hole 301 department to carry out the butt with it, guarantee that the high temperature high pressure gas that the product was spouted is in airtight environment all the time, avoid gas to scurry in the inside of box device 300, reduce the probability of secondary thermal runaway risk, thereby play thermal runaway protection's function, improved the reliability.

In some embodiments, the power battery pack further includes a plurality of electric cells, the electric cells are configured in the accommodating cavity, the electric cells are located at one side of the protecting device, the discharging hole 301 of the box device 300 is located at the other side of the protecting device, and the explosion-proof valve of the electric cells corresponds to the installation area of the protecting device, it is understood that the electric cells include, but are not limited to, square-shell batteries, and the electric cells may be left and right side outlet lugs, or may be single side (one of the left and right sides of the electric cells) outlet lugs, where each installation area is provided with one electric cell. Through set up protector between the explosion-proof valve of discharge port 301 and electric core, can ensure that the high temperature high pressure gas that electric core jetted out is in sealed environment all the time, reduce the probability of secondary thermal runaway risk to play the function of thermal runaway protection, improved the reliability.

In a third aspect, the present utility model also provides a powered device, including a power battery pack as described in any one of the above. The electric device may be a vehicle, a portable device, a notebook computer, a ship, a spacecraft, an electric toy, or the like. The vehicle can be a fuel oil vehicle, a fuel gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle or a range-extended vehicle; spacecraft including airplanes, rockets, space planes, spacecraft, and the like; the electric toy includes fixed or mobile electric toys such as a game machine, an electric car toy, an electric ship toy, and an electric airplane toy, and the like. The embodiment of the utility model does not limit the electric device in particular. Taking a vehicle as an example, the vehicle may further include a controller and a motor, the controller being configured to control the power battery to power the motor, for example, for operating power requirements during start-up, navigation, and travel of the vehicle. The electric equipment provided by the embodiment of the third aspect of the present utility model includes the power battery pack described in the technical scheme of the second aspect, so that all technical effects of the above embodiment are achieved, and are not described herein.

The above description is only of the preferred embodiments of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model, and various modifications and variations may be made to the present utility model by those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present utility model should be included in the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims (10)

1. A protective device, comprising:

a guard structure configured to be distributed in a front-rear direction, the guard structure being provided with a plurality of mounting areas;

and a guide structure which is disposed inside the installation region to form a first state, and which moves in a left-right direction with respect to the guard structure when thermal runaway occurs, such that at least part of the structure of the guide structure is located outside the installation region to form a second state.

2. The shielding device according to claim 1, wherein the guide structure includes a guide assembly and an elastic member, the guide assembly is provided with a guide cavity along the left-right direction, one end of the elastic member is connected to the guide assembly, the other end is connected to the shielding structure, and the elastic member is in a compressed state when the guide structure is in the first state.

3. The shielding device according to claim 2, wherein the guiding assembly comprises a guiding member and a restraining member, the restraining member being located on the same side of the guiding member as the elastic member, one end of the restraining member being connected to the guiding member and the other end being connected to the shielding structure, and the guiding structure forming the second state when the restraining member is disconnected.

4. A guard according to claim 3, wherein the guide comprises a guide portion and an abutment portion, one end of the abutment portion being connected to the guide portion and the other end being connected to the constraint member, and the guide portion having a cross-sectional dimension smaller than that of the mounting region, and the abutment portion having a cross-sectional dimension larger than that of the mounting region.

5. The guard of claim 4, wherein the guide cavity of the guide is provided with a blanking cap.

6. A power cell pack comprising:

a housing device provided with a housing chamber; and

the shielding device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the shielding device is disposed in the accommodating cavity, and the shielding device forms a gap with a side wall of the case device.

7. The power battery pack according to claim 6, wherein the case device is provided with a plurality of discharge holes in a front-rear direction, and a side wall of the case device is provided with a discharge cavity communicating with the discharge holes, the discharge holes being configured to correspond to a mounting area of the protection device.

8. The power cell pack of claim 7, wherein the cross-sectional dimension of the drain hole is smaller than the cross-sectional dimension of the guide portion of the guard such that the guide structure of the guard abuts at the drain hole when the guard is in the second state.

9. The power cell pack of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of cells are disposed in the accommodating cavity, the cells are located on one side of the protection device, the vent hole of the case device is located on the other side of the protection device, and the explosion-proof valve of the cells corresponds to the installation area of the protection device.

10. A powered device comprising a power cell pack as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9.