JP2003257403A - One-way valve - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a one-way valve realizing sufficient function as a pressure releasing valve in a capacitor, a battery, or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A valve body 12 is formed by unitedly forming an annular curved part 19 in a washer 18 made of a stiff material such as metal, the valve body 12 is press-fit into a valve mounting part 11 of a housing 4 in which a pressure releasing hole 10 is installed to form a valve structure, and in the valve structure, when the sealing pressure is a stationary value, the peak of the curved part 19 is seated on a valve seat 13 around the pressure releasing hole 10 to close a valve, and when the pressure exceeds the stationary value, the valve body 12 is deformed by pressure, and the peak of the curved part 19 is apart from the valve seat 13 to open the valve. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a one-way valve, which is a type of valve device, and more specifically, as a pressure release valve that opens and releases pressure when the sealing pressure exceeds a steady value. It relates to a one-way valve suitable for being used.
This one-way valve is used in various fields such as capacitors, batteries, home appliances and automobiles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, since a conventional condenser has a hermetically sealed structure, when a sudden load is applied, the internal pressure rises due to Joule heat generation, resulting in a reduction in operating efficiency and a reduction in life. In addition, polytetrafluoroethylene (PT
Although a technology has been developed in which a porous membrane, typified by FE), is attached to the pressure release hole of the sealing plate to exert the breather function, according to this method, even if the internal pressure is a steady value, the included gas is It gradually penetrates the porous membrane and exits. Therefore, the electrolytic solution is likely to decrease, and external water vapor is likely to enter. Further, in a poor environment, the porous membrane may be clogged, and it is difficult to expect stable performance.

[0003]

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide a one-way valve capable of exerting a sufficient function as a pressure release valve in the above condenser or battery. .

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, a one-way valve according to claim 1 of the present invention is a valve body by integrally forming an annular curved portion on a washer made of a rigid material such as metal. The valve body is press-fitted into the valve mounting portion of the housing provided with the pressure release hole to form a valve structure, and when the sealing pressure is a steady value, the apex of the curved portion has the apex of the pressure release hole. It is closed by seating on a valve seat around it, and when the pressure exceeds a steady value, the valve body is deformed by the pressure and the apex of the curved portion separates from the valve seat to open the valve. Is characterized in that.

A one-way valve according to a second aspect of the present invention is the one-way valve according to the first aspect, wherein a rubber sheet or an O-ring is provided between the housing and the valve body to enhance the sealing force when the valve is closed. A rubber-like elastic body made of, for example, is interposed.

A one-way valve according to claim 3 of the present invention is the one-way valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing is a resin sealing plate for sealing the opening of the pressure vessel. Is characterized by.

The one-way valve according to claim 1 of the present invention having the above structure has a valve body made of a washer made of a rigid material such as metal, and the valve body is press-fitted into the valve mounting portion of the housing. This constitutes the valve structure. A pressure release hole is provided in the housing so as to communicate with the valve mounting portion, and the pressure release hole functions as a valve hole in the valve structure. Further, the washer of the valve body is provided with an annular curved portion, and the valve structure is opened and closed by bringing the apex of the curved portion into contact with and away from the valve seat. The valve seat is generally provided directly on the housing, but when a third part such as a rubber sheet is interposed between the housing and the valve body as described in claim 2, the valve seat is attached to the rubber sheet or the like. The vertices of the curved portion may come into contact with or separate from each other. The valve structure operates as follows.

That is, first, when the sealing pressure has a steady value, the annular curved portion is seated on the valve seat around the pressure release hole at the apex of the annular portion, and thus the valve is closed. Since the valve body is made of a rigid material such as metal instead of the porous film as in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the gas contained therein does not permeate. Further, since the annular curved portion provided on the washer of the valve body has a triangular or arcuate cross section and is seated on the valve seat with a relatively narrow width only at its apex, the close contact force is large. Therefore, from these things, an excellent sealing force is exerted, and thus the pressure can be surely sealed.
Further, at this time, when a rubber-like elastic body such as a rubber sheet or an O-ring is interposed between the housing and the valve body as described in claim 2, the apex of the curved portion is elastic with respect to the elastic body. Since it closely adheres to, the sealing force is further enhanced.
Further, in this valve closed state, if the sealing pressure rises and exceeds the steady value, the valve body is deformed under the high pressure, the apex of the bending portion separates from the valve seat, and the valve opens. Therefore, the high pressure can be reliably released until it returns to the steady value. In the valve body made of the washer, the magnitude of the valve opening pressure can be easily changed by adjusting the plate thickness of the washer, the bending degree of the curved portion, and the like at the time of design and manufacture.

The present application includes the following technical matters.

That is, in order to achieve the above object, one one-way valve proposed by the present application has the following contents.

A one-way valve attached to a lid (sealing plate) of a sealed battery and capable of freely setting the valve opening pressure. The housing surface and the apex of the curved surface of the washer come into contact with each other to seal an external intruder. The washer is deformed by a predetermined internal pressure, and the sealing ability is controlled. One-way valve that is not easily affected by environmental temperature and changes over time.
This is a structure in which a rubber sheet is sandwiched between a metal washer and the bottom of an installation hole provided in a resin sealing plate. The washer is curved in a concentric circle and contacts with a narrow width as compared with a case where a rubber sheet is sandwiched by flat plate washers, so that the enclosed gas has a high sealing ability. When the internal pressure rises, the washer deforms (rises)
However, the pressure force of the rubber sheet is reduced, and the internal pressure is released to the atmosphere side. Since the opening pressure is determined by the plate thickness of the washer and the shape of the outer peripheral cutout, it is easy to set. Further, since the deformation of the metal material is used, it is unlikely to be affected by environmental temperature and changes with time. It is attached by pressing into a resin sealing plate. By fitting the outer peripheral portion into the housing notch groove, a high and stable release load is generated, and the product does not slip out during use. Since it can be press-fitted in the final step of capacitor assembly, the electrolyte can be injected in the final stage.

According to the above construction, the following operational effects can be achieved.

(1) By releasing the internal pressure, a cooling effect can be exerted and a decrease in efficiency of the sealed battery can be prevented. (2) The valve is opened only when the pressure exceeds a certain level to minimize the evaporation of the electrolytic solution, and the long life of the battery can be achieved. (3) After the electrolyte is injected in the final step of assembling the battery, it can be press-fitted and mounted, so that it also has a function as a lid for the injection port of the electrolyte and can improve the assemblability of the capacitor itself.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a sealed battery or capacitor (hereinafter, simply referred to as a battery) having a one-way valve according to an embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a cross-sectional view thereof, and (B) is shown.
Shows the plan views, respectively. 2 is shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4 and is a cross-sectional view of the one-way valve, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a valve body that is a component thereof.

The battery 1 shown in FIG. 1 is constructed as follows.

That is, first, a cylindrical case 2 having a bottom and serving as a pressure vessel made of a metal material such as aluminum is provided, and the main body element 3 is housed inside the case 2, and the upper end opening of the case 2 is opened. The portion is closed by a disc-shaped sealing plate 4 made of a synthetic resin material having electrical insulation. The body element 3 is impregnated with the electrolytic solution sealed inside the case 2. The outer periphery of the case 2 is covered with the outer can 5.

The outer peripheral portion of the sealing plate 4 is the case 2
Caulking part 2 formed so that the upper end of the
a and a narrowed portion 2b located on the lower side thereof and continuously formed in the case 2 in the circumferential direction, are airtightly fixed via an annular gasket 6 made of a rubber-like elastic material. There is. The sealing plate 4 is provided with a pair of electrode terminals 8 connected to the body element 3 via lead wires 7 so as to penetrate in the thickness direction, and a one-way valve 9 is provided. Each of the electrode terminals 8 is integrated so that a part thereof is embedded in the sealing plate 4 by insert molding, and is prevented from coming off from the sealing plate 4 by an annular collar portion 8a formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. ing.

The one-way valve 9 is constructed as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the sealing plate 4 as a housing is provided with a pressure release hole 10 for communicating the inside and outside of the battery 1, and above the pressure release hole 10 and above the sealing plate 4. A recessed valve mounting portion 11 having a plane circular shape is provided on the upper surface of the disk, and a disc-shaped valve body 12 is mounted on the valve mounting portion 11. Pressure release hole 10
On the bottom surface of the valve mounting portion 11 around the
Is provided, and an annular bead 14 is formed on the valve seat 13. A notch groove 15 for engaging the outer peripheral engagement portion 22 of the valve body 12 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the valve mounting portion 11. A rubber sheet 16 is attached to the bottom surface of the valve attachment portion 11, and this rubber sheet 16 is used for the annular bead 1.
Covers 4. Therefore, the valve body 12 is seated on the rubber sheet 16. The rubber sheet 16 is provided with a through hole 17 communicating with the pressure release hole 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the valve body 12 is formed by a disk-shaped washer 18 made of a metal material, and an annular curved portion 19 projects downward from the valve body 12 in the figure. Is formed to have an annular top 1
An annular seating portion 20 is provided on the lower surface of 9a. The curved portion 19 includes the top portion 19a and the sloped portions 19 on the inner and outer circumferences thereof.
b, 19c and has a substantially triangular cross section,
The top portion 19a and the seating portion 20 are formed in an arcuate cross section. The inner peripheral portion of the annular curved portion 19 is formed as a raised portion 21 that relatively projects upward. Also,
A plurality of claw-shaped engaging portions 22 are radially provided on the outer peripheral portion of the valve body 12, and the engaging portions 22 are respectively provided in the cutout grooves 15.
The valve body 12 is fixed to the sealing plate 4 by engaging with. In addition, a notch-shaped communication portion 2 for allowing fluid to flow when the valve is opened, between the engagement portions 22 adjacent to each other.
3 is provided. The valve body 12 is formed by pressing a metal plate or the like, and is press-fitted into the valve mounting portion 11 at the time of mounting.

Next, the operation of the one-way valve 9 will be described.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the seat portion 20 of the valve body 12 is seated on the valve seat 13 via the rubber sheet 16 and the one-way valve 9 is closed, and the internal pressure of the battery 1 is steady. At value, valve 9 is thus closed. Since the valve body 12 is formed by the washer 18 made of a metal plate instead of the porous film as in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the contained gas does not permeate. Further, since the annular curved portion 19 provided on the valve body 12 has a triangular shape in cross section and is seated on the valve seat 13 only in the relatively narrow portion of the top portion 19a, the close contact force is set to be large. Further, the rubber sheet 16 exhibits the sealing property. Therefore, from these facts, an excellent sealing force is exerted, so that the gas contained inside the battery 1 does not leak to the outside, and foreign matter such as moisture and dust from the outside may enter the inside of the battery 1. Absent.

In the valve closed state of FIG. 2, when the sealing pressure rises and exceeds the steady value, the high pressure is received and the valve body 12 is received.
Is deformed, the seating portion 20 of the bending portion 19 separates from the valve seat 13 and the rubber sheet 16, and the valve 9 opens. Therefore, the internal pressure of the battery 1 is excessively increased because the internal pressure is released from the inside of the battery 1 to the atmosphere through the pressure release hole 10, the through hole 17, the valve seat 13 and the seat portion 20 and the communication portion 23. Never.

According to the one-way valve 9 having the above structure, the following operational effects can be obtained.

That is, first of all, when the internal pressure of the battery 1 exceeds the steady value, the valve is opened to release the high pressure inside the battery 1 to the atmosphere, so that the cooling effect can be exerted. It is possible to prevent the operating efficiency of the battery 1 from decreasing.

Further, when the internal pressure of the battery 1 is a steady value, the valve is reliably closed by the above configuration, and the valve is opened only when the internal pressure exceeds the steady value. It is possible to minimize the evaporation of the electrolyte of
It is possible to prevent the life of the battery 1 from decreasing.

Further, since the valve body 12 is attached to the valve attachment portion 11 at the final stage of the process of assembling the battery 1, the electrolyte is injected using the pressure release hole 10 as the injection port immediately before the valve is attached. You can do it. Therefore, most of the steps for assembling the battery 1 can be performed before injecting the electrolytic solution, so that there is no risk of leakage of the electrolytic solution during the assembling work, and thus the assembling workability of the battery 1 can be improved.

Further, since the magnitude of the opening pressure at which the valve opening operation is started can be adjusted only by changing the shape of one of the washers 18 constituting the valve body 12, the opening pressure can be easily adjusted. Is. For adjustment, specifically, washers 18
The thickness and the bending condition of the curved portion 19 are changed.

Further, since the valve opening operation utilizes the deformation of the metal material forming the valve body 12, it is hardly affected by the environmental temperature and the change with time.

Further, since the mounting work is completed only by press-fitting the valve body 12 into the valve mounting portion 11, the mounting work is easy.

Further, since the metal engaging portion 22 engages with the notch groove 15 and is prevented from coming off, the attachment is easy, but the retaining force is high.

Furthermore, since the rubber sheet 16 is interposed between the valve body 12 and the sealing plate 4, the elastic sealing action of the rubber sheet 16 provides a high sealing force when the valve is closed.

The rubber sheet 16 can be replaced with the O-ring 24 as shown in FIG. In this case, the O-ring 24 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the seat portion 20 of the valve body 12, and the outer peripheral inclined surface portion 19c of the bending portion 19 and the valve mounting portion 11 are arranged.
It will be sandwiched between the bottom surface and the bottom surface to seal when the valve is closed. Since this example does not have the rubber sheet 16, it is suitable for opening the valve at a pressure lower than that of the rubber sheet 16, and the O-ring 24 is mainly used for preventing dust from entering from the outside. In this case, the seat 20 made of metal comes into direct contact with the valve seat 13. However, if the O-ring 24 reliably seals the inner sealing fluid and the external dust, the seat 20 is closed when the valve is closed. The valve seat 13 does not have to abut.

[0035]

The present invention has the following effects.

That is, in the one-way valve according to claim 1 of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, when the sealing pressure exceeds the steady value, the valve is opened to release the high pressure, so that the battery or the like is operated. It is possible to prevent the efficiency from decreasing. Also, when the sealing pressure is a steady value, the valve is closed securely, and only when the sealing pressure exceeds the steady value, the valve is opened. It is possible to prevent the service life of the product from being shortened. Therefore, from these things, it is possible to provide a highly reliable one-way valve that exhibits a sufficient function as a pressure release valve for batteries and the like. Further, as described above, the workability of assembling the battery and the like can be improved, the magnitude of the valve opening pressure can be easily adjusted, the environmental temperature and the change over time are less likely to affect, and the valve body mounting work can be easily performed. Exhibits certain effects.

In addition to this, in the one-way valve according to claim 2 of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, a rubber-like elastic body such as a rubber sheet or an O-ring is interposed between the housing and the valve body. In addition, the elastic sealing action provided by these elastic bodies can further improve the sealing force when the valve is closed.

A third aspect of the present invention having the above structure.
In the one-way valve according to, the one-way valve that exhibits the above effect is attached to the sealing plate made of resin, so that the above effect can be obtained in a product including the sealing plate made of resin, such as a capacitor or a battery. . Therefore, as the one-way valve is improved by the present invention, the quality of these products can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are diagrams showing a battery having a one-way valve according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a sectional view thereof, and FIG.

2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1 and is a sectional view of a one-way valve.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a valve body.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a one-way valve according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 battery 2 cases 3 body element 4 Sealing plate (housing) 5 outer cans 6 gasket 7 lead wire 8 electrode terminals 9 one-way valve 10 Pressure release hole 11 Valve mounting part 12 valve bodies 13 seat 14 Annular beads 15 Notch groove 16 rubber sheet 17 through hole 18 washers 19 curved part 19a top 19b, 19c slope part 20 Seat 21 Raised part 22 Engagement part 23 Communication 24 O-ring

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 3H059 AA09 BB04 BB06 BB29 BB30                       CA17 CB20 CB23 CD01 EE01                       FF05 FF17                 5H012 AA01 BB02 DD02 DD06 EE04                       EE09 GG01 GG05 JJ03

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A housing (4) having a pressure relief hole (10) formed by integrally forming an annular curved portion (19) on a washer (18) made of a rigid material such as metal to form a valve body (12). The valve body (12) is press-fitted into the valve mounting portion (11) to form a valve structure,
When the sealing pressure has a steady value, the valve structure is closed by the apex of the bending portion (19) seating on the valve seat (13) around the pressure release hole (10), When the pressure exceeds a steady value, the pressure causes the valve body (12) to
Is deformed so that the apex of the bending portion (19) becomes the valve seat (1
A one-way valve which is opened by being separated from 3). 2. The one-way valve according to claim 1, wherein a rubber sheet (16) or an O-ring (2) is provided between the housing (4) and the valve body (12) to enhance a sealing force when the valve is closed.
A one-way valve in which a rubber-like elastic body made of 4) or the like is interposed. 3. The one-way valve according to claim 1, wherein the housing (4) is a resin sealing plate that seals the opening of the pressure vessel.