JP5245335B2 - Lead acid battery - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lead-acid battery having an exhaust structure in which a gas discharge function is not deteriorated by mist or water vapor of an electrolyte discharged together with gas from a cell.

  The exhaust structure of a monoblock type lead-acid battery having a plurality of cells is roughly divided into an individual exhaust system provided with an exhaust plug for each cell and a gas exhausted from each cell to a central exhaust chamber. There is a batch exhaust system that concentrates gas from the exhaust and discharges it to the outside. Compared to the individual exhaust system, the collective exhaust system requires fewer parts, and the volume of the upper space of the electrode plate can be reduced, and the battery can be reduced in size without reducing the battery capacity. Since it has advantages such as suppression of the amount of escape of electrolyte, it has been widely adopted for in-vehicle lead acid batteries.

  In the collective exhaust system, an exhaust valve is not attached to each cell, but one exhaust valve is attached to the outlet side where the above-described concentrated exhaust chamber opens outside the battery. With regard to such a lead-acid battery collective exhaust system, there have been some conventional methods for preventing the electrolyte from escaping out of the battery in the form of mist or vapor, and for discharging the gas so that the internal pressure of the battery does not increase. Some suggestions have been made.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that six cells are divided into two collective exhaust passages each having three cells, and a porous material is attached to the collective exhaust port portion of each exhaust passage. However, in the configuration as described in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the porous material is clogged by the mist or water vapor of the electrolyte discharged together with the gas and the gas discharging function is lowered. As a solution to such a problem, a proposal as in Patent Document 2 has been made. In Patent Document 2, in the process of exhaust, a part of the storage battery liquid becomes vapor and reaches the explosion-proof paste attached to the cylindrical chamber and condenses there, by providing a small chamber and a small hole in the cell direction. What prevents the clogging of the explosion-proof paste by being dropped in the container is disclosed. Further, as proposals similar to Patent Document 2, there are also proposals such as Patent Documents 3 and 4. Patent Document 3 relates to a structure of collective exhaust in which the distance in which the gas flows in the horizontal direction is made as long as possible in order to increase the efficiency of separation of the gas and the electrolyte. A porous filter is arranged at the gas exhaust port to prevent the electrolyte mist and water vapor from being discharged and to prevent the filter from getting wet and clogged with the electrolyte. The present invention relates to an exhaust structure provided with a space. Further, although Patent Document 5 is not a collective exhaust system, when a large amount of liquid leaks from the safety valve during overcharge, it is absorbed by the liquid absorbing sheet so that the electrolyte does not leak outside the battery. Is.
JP-A-8-171891 JP-A-6-140013 JP 2001-84981 A JP-A-6-176748 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-275997

  When the various proposals described above are viewed from the viewpoint of explosion-proof properties, it can be said that the proposals of Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 4 are superior to the proposals of Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 5; Until recently, in Patent Document 4, since the electrolyte mist and water vapor have reached the immediate vicinity of the porous filter, if these functions deteriorate, there is a risk that the electrolyte mist and water vapor will leak to the outside along with the gas. Had. The present invention has been made in view of such problems.

That is, in this invention, the said subject is solved by setting a lead storage battery as the following structures.
(1) A lead-acid battery according to the present invention covers a battery case that houses a plurality of cells, an inner lid that covers an upper surface of the battery case, and an inner lid gas passage formed on the surface, and covers the inner lid gas passage. And an upper lid having an upper lid gas passage formed on the surface thereof, and an upper lid cover covering the upper lid gas passage. The inner lid gas passage concentrates the gas discharged from each cell and guides it to the upper lid gas passage. It has induced chamber, the upper cover gas passage and an exhaust chamber for discharging the inner lid gas guiding chamber of the gas guided upper cover gas induction chamber that leads outside battery gases to the outside of the battery, the inner lid gas induction The chamber has an inner lid gas guiding path and a valve cylinder part, and a liquid absorbing member is disposed in the inner lid gas guiding path, and gas is passed through an exhaust valve and an explosion-proof filter disposed in the valve cylinder part. Is guided to the upper lid gas induction chamber (claim 1 ).
( 2 ) In the above ( 1 ), a rib is provided in a portion of the back surface of the upper lid that covers the inner lid gas guiding path (Claim 2 ).
( 3 ) In the above (1) or (2), the upper lid gas guiding chamber has an opening and an upper lid gas guiding passage, and the upper lid in which the liquid absorbing member is disposed from the opening after passing through the exhaust valve. The exhaust gas is guided to the exhaust chamber through the gas guide path (claim 3 ).
( 4 ) In the above ( 3 ), a rib is provided on a portion of the back surface of the upper cover that covers the upper cover gas guide path (claim 4 ).

By adopting the above configuration, the present invention has the following effects.
According to the invention of (1), the inner lid gas passage is composed of the gas concentration chamber and the middle lid gas induction chamber, the upper lid gas passage is composed of the upper lid gas induction chamber and the exhaust chamber, and the gas is guided to the inner lid gas. Since it is led from the chamber to the upper lid gas induction chamber via the exhaust valve and discharged from the exhaust chamber to the outside of the battery, the path through which the gas flows can be lengthened, and the mist of the electrolyte discharged together with the gas Water vapor can be prevented from being discharged out of the battery from the exhaust chamber. In addition , since the gas passes through the exhaust valve after passing through the liquid absorbing member arranged in the inner lid gas guiding path, the mist and water vapor of the electrolyte discharged together with the gas from the cell hardly pass through the exhaust valve, The explosion-proof filter mounted on the exhaust valve can be prevented from being clogged. Further, according to the invention of ( 2 ), the liquid absorbing member absorbs the electrolyte mist and water vapor and swells to flow the gas. Even if the gas flow rate decreases, the gas flow path can be secured by the ribs, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in the gas discharge function.
According to the invention of ( 3 ), since the gas is discharged outside the battery after passing through the liquid absorbing member disposed in the upper lid gas guide path, the electrolyte mist and water vapor are discharged together with the gas from the cell. However, it can be prevented from being discharged out of the battery. Further, according to the invention of ( 4 ), the liquid absorbing member absorbs the mist or water vapor of the electrolytic solution and swells, so that the gas circulation performance is improved. Even if it falls, since the flow path of gas can be ensured by the rib, the fall of the gas discharge function can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, although the details of the present invention are explained by one embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

  FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the configuration of a 6-cell monoblock type lead-acid battery 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of the battery as viewed from above the inner lid 3. (In FIG. 1B, the liquid absorbing member 32b is not shown). Reference numeral 2 denotes a battery case, which is divided into 6 cells by 5 partition walls (not shown) arranged parallel to the short side of the battery, and each cell is an electrode comprising a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate and a separator. An electrolytic solution (not shown) composed of a plate group and dilute sulfuric acid is held and stored in the electrode plate group. Reference numeral 3 denotes an inner lid, and an inner lid gas passage 30 including a gas concentration chamber 31 and an inner lid gas guiding chamber 32 is formed on the surface, and the rear surface is mounted on the battery case 2. 4 is an upper lid, and an upper lid gas passage 40 including an upper lid gas induction chamber 41 and an exhaust chamber 42 is formed on the surface, and the inner lid gas is formed so that the back surface of the upper lid gas induction chamber 41 is located above the inner lid gas induction chamber 32. It is mounted over the passage 30. Reference numeral 5 denotes an upper lid cover which covers the upper lid gas guiding chamber 41 and is mounted so as to cover the exhaust chamber 42 so that the exhaust port 6 is formed. The battery case 2, the inner lid 3, the upper lid 4, and the upper lid cover 5 are all molded products of polypropylene resin. The battery case 2 and the inner lid 3 mounted thereon, the inner lid 3 and the upper lid 4 mounted thereon, and the upper lid 4 and the upper cover cover 5 mounted thereon are all mounted by heat sealing. . The shapes of the inner lid gas passage 30 and the upper lid gas passage 40 will be described later. Reference numeral 7 denotes a lead alloy positive electrode terminal, a part of which is connected to a positive electrode column 71 protruding from the electrode plate group disposed at one end of the long side to the surface of the inner lid 3. Similarly, reference numeral 8 denotes a lead alloy negative electrode terminal, a part of which is connected to a negative electrode column 81 protruding from the electrode plate group disposed at the other end on the long side to the surface of the inner lid 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the gas concentration chamber 31 of the inner lid 3 is provided with gas discharge ports 33 for discharging gas from each cell corresponding to the six cells. The gas discharged from each gas outlet 33 during charging, particularly during overcharging, is smoothly discharged out of the battery. The mist of the electrolyte and water vapor escape from each gas outlet 33 together with this gas. Alternatively, the mist or water vapor of the electrolyte may escape from each gas discharge port 33 due to vibration, and the gas in the gas concentration chamber 31 is guided to the inner lid gas induction chamber 32 so that the gas discharge is not hindered thereby. Then, it is led from the inner lid gas guiding chamber 32 to the upper lid gas guiding chamber 41 of the upper lid 4 and is discharged from the upper lid gas guiding chamber 41 through the exhaust chamber 42 to the outside of the battery. 1 (a) and 1 (b), a gas outlet 33 for discharging gas from each cell is provided in the gas concentration chamber 31, but a notch 3b (described later) is provided for each gas outlet 33 of each cell. ) To the inner lid gas guiding chamber 32, and in this case, the inner lid gas guiding chamber 32 has the function of the gas concentration chamber 31. Here, a liquid absorbing member 32b is disposed in the inner cover gas guiding path 32a of the inner cover gas guiding chamber 32, and mist or water vapor of the electrolyte that escapes with the gas is absorbed and held by the liquid absorbing member 32b. In this way, only the gas is guided to the exhaust valve mounting portion 41a of the upper lid 4 which is inserted into the valve cylinder portion 32c having a bottomed recess. As a result, the mist or water vapor of the escaped electrolyte hardly passes through the exhaust valve 41d mounted on the exhaust valve mounting portion 41a, and the explosion-proof filter 41e mounted on the exhaust valve is not clogged. Only the gas that has passed through the exhaust valve 41d can be guided to the upper lid gas guiding path 41b. In the figure, a liquid absorbing member 41c is also disposed in the upper lid gas guiding path 41b, and a part of the electrolyte mist and water vapor that have passed through the exhaust valve 41d and the explosion-proof filter 41e are further absorbed and held by the liquid absorbing member 41c. In this way, the electrolyte chamber mist and water vapor are prevented from reaching the exhaust chamber 42.

  As the liquid absorbing members 32b and 41c, a fine glass mat excellent in water absorption and liquid absorption, or silica powder that gels by absorbing mist or water vapor in an electrolyte is preferably contained in a bag such as a desiccant. However, it is not limited to this.

  Further, as is clear from FIG. 1A, the inner lid 3 and the upper lid 4 so that the back surface of the upper lid gas guiding path 41b abuts on the liquid absorbing member 32b disposed in the middle lid gas guiding path 32a. 2 is provided on the back surface of the upper lid gas guiding path 41b, and a gas flow path can be secured even if the liquid absorbing member 32b swells. I am doing so. Similarly, the upper lid 4 and the upper lid cover 5 are heat-sealed so that the back surface of the upper lid cover 5 abuts on the liquid absorbing member 41c disposed in the upper lid gas guiding path 41b. A rib 5a as shown in FIG. 3 is provided on the back surface of the liquid so that a gas flow path can be secured even if the liquid absorbing member 41c swells. The shape and arrangement of these ribs 4a and 5a are not particularly limited.

  In FIG. 1 (a), the liquid absorbing member 32b is disposed in the inner lid gas guiding path 32a, and the liquid absorbing member 41c is disposed in the upper lid gas guiding path 41b, but the electrolysis is performed before passing through the exhaust valve 41d. If most of the liquid mist and water vapor are absorbed by the liquid absorbing member 32b, the liquid absorbing member 41c may not be disposed in the upper lid gas guiding path 41b. And when this liquid absorption member 41c is not arrange | positioned, the rib 5a does not need to be provided in the back surface of the upper cover cover 5. FIG.

  Next, a path through which the gas discharged from the gas discharge port 33 is discharged outside the battery through the exhaust chamber 42 will be described. The gas discharged from the gas discharge port 33 is shared in the gas concentration chamber 31, and this gas is mixed with mist of electrolyte solution and water vapor escaped from the gas discharge port 33. The gas in which the mist of the electrolytic solution and water vapor are mixed passes through the notch 3b of the partition 3a provided at the boundary between the gas concentration chamber 31 and the inner lid gas guiding chamber 32, and the inner lid gas guiding chamber 32. Most of the mist of the electrolytic solution and water vapor are absorbed by the liquid absorbing member 32b disposed in the inner lid gas guiding path 32a of the inner lid gas guiding chamber 32, and only the gas is the valve of the inner lid gas guiding chamber 32. It moves to the cylinder part 32c. The exhaust valve mounting portion 41a of the upper lid 4 is inserted into the valve cylinder portion 32c. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, the exhaust valve mounting portion 41a is a recess having a central opening 41a1 and an annular protrusion 41a2 formed surrounding the opening 41a1, and the valve cylinder. The gas that has entered the portion 32c enters the inner space surrounded by the annular protrusion 41a2 through the opening 41a1, passes through the exhaust valve 41d and the explosion-proof filter 41e fitted to the annular protrusion 41a2, and enters the upper lid gas guiding path 41b. Moving. Almost no electrolyte mist or water vapor remains in the gas that has moved to the upper lid gas guiding path 41b. However, if the liquid absorbing member 41c is provided in the upper lid gas guiding path 41b, it remains slightly. It can also absorb the mist and water vapor of the electrolyte. In FIG. 4, the exhaust valve mounting portion 41a is inserted into the valve cylinder portion 32c. However, the valve cylinder portion 32c has the same configuration as the exhaust valve mounting portion 41a, and the opening 41a1 is located below the peripheral edge of the annular protrusion 41a2. The gas may enter the inner space through the opening. In this case, the exhaust valve mounting portion 41a of the upper lid 4 is opened, and the periphery of the exhaust valve 41d and the explosion-proof filter 41e is formed at the periphery. Just hold it down. Thus, the gas after passing through the upper lid gas guiding path 41b reaches the exhaust chamber 42 after the mist and water vapor of the electrolytic solution are almost completely removed. The exhaust chamber 42 is formed by a notch 4b provided in a part on the side of the long side of the upper lid 4, and the upper lid cover 5 and the upper lid are arranged so that the protrusion 5b of the upper lid cover 5 is positioned on the notch 4b. The exhaust port 6 is formed by heat-sealing 4. The exhaust port 6 formed in this way can be opened horizontally from the side of the long side of the lead-acid battery 1, but may be opened downward.

  As described above, the control valve type lead-acid battery can maintain its function by smoothly discharging the gas to the outside of the battery, but the mist and water vapor of the electrolyte mixed in the gas are the path of the gas discharge. If the exhaust valve 41d is passed through, the explosion-proof filter 41e is clogged, and smooth discharge of gas is hindered, which may increase the internal pressure. In addition, if the gas is discharged outside the battery while the electrolyte mist and water vapor are mixed in the gas, the place where the lead storage battery is mounted and the surrounding area may be damaged. In view of such a problem, the present invention lengthens the gas discharge path by allowing the gas to be discharged out of the battery through the inner lid gas passage 30 and the upper lid gas passage 40, in addition to this. Liquid absorbing members 32b and 41c are disposed in both the upper lid gas guiding path 32a leading to the exhaust valve 41d and the upper lid gas guiding path 41b leading to the exhaust chamber 42, or only the inner lid gas guiding path 32a absorbs the liquid. A liquid member 32b is provided.

  Further, as described above, by lengthening the gas discharge path, it is possible to prevent the electrolyte mist and water vapor discharged together with the gas from being discharged out of the battery from the exhaust chamber.

  In the above embodiment, the inner lid gas guiding chamber 32 is provided with the valve cylinder portion 32c, and the exhaust valve mounting portion 41a of the upper lid 4 is inserted into the valve cylinder portion 32c. After the exhaust valve 41d is fitted in the upper lid 4 in advance, it can be thermally welded onto the inner lid 3. On the other hand, an annular protrusion for fitting the exhaust valve to the valve cylinder portion 32c of the inner lid 3 can be provided. In this case, the gas passes through the exhaust valve and moves to the upper lid gas guiding path 41b so as to spread between the side of the exhaust valve and the annular projection, and the inner lid 3 fitted with the exhaust valve is removed. It will be thermally welded to the battery case 2.

  As described above, the present invention can be provided with an exhaust structure in which the discharge function of the gas is not deteriorated by the mist or water vapor of the electrolyte discharged together with the gas from the cell. Is big.

1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a lead storage battery according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a plan view of the battery as viewed from above an inner lid 3. FIG. It is the top view which looked at the upper lid from the back. It is the top view which looked at the upper cover from the back. It is principal part sectional drawing of the exhaust valve mounting part 41a.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lead acid battery 2 Battery case 3 Inner lid 3a Bulkhead 3b Notch 30 Middle lid gas passage 31 Gas concentration chamber 32 Middle lid gas guidance chamber 32a Middle lid gas guidance passage 32b Liquid absorption member 32c Valve cylinder part 4 Upper lid 4a Rib 4b Notch 40 Upper lid gas passage 41 Upper lid gas guiding chamber 41a Exhaust valve mounting portion 41b Upper lid gas guiding passage 41c Liquid absorbing member 41d Exhaust valve 41e Explosion-proof filter 42 Exhaust chamber 5 Upper lid cover 5a Rib 5b Protrusion 6 Exhaust port 7 Positive terminal 71 Positive column 8 Negative electrode Terminal 81 Negative pole

Claims (4)

A battery case that accommodates a plurality of cells, an inner lid that covers the upper surface of the battery case and has an inner lid gas passage formed on the surface, and an upper lid that covers the inner lid gas passage and has an upper lid gas passage formed on the surface And an upper lid cover that covers the upper lid gas passage, and the inner lid gas passage has an inner lid gas guide chamber that concentrates the gas discharged from each cell and guides the gas to the upper lid gas passage, the medium cover gas guiding chamber of the gas guided upper cover gas induction chamber that leads outside battery gases possess an exhaust chamber for exhausting to the outside of the battery,
The inner lid gas guiding chamber has an inner lid gas guiding path and a valve cylinder part. A liquid absorbing member is disposed in the inner lid gas guiding path and an exhaust valve disposed in the valve cylinder part and an explosion proof. A lead-acid battery characterized in that gas is guided to an upper lid gas induction chamber through a filter . The lead storage battery according to claim 1 , wherein a rib is provided on a portion of the rear surface of the upper lid that covers the inner lid gas guiding path. The upper lid gas guiding chamber has an opening and an upper lid gas guiding passage, and the gas after passing through the exhaust valve is guided from the opening to the exhaust chamber through the upper lid gas guiding passage in which a liquid absorbing member is disposed. The lead acid battery according to claim 1 or 2. The lead acid battery according to claim 3 , wherein a rib is provided on a portion of the back surface of the upper cover that covers the upper cover gas guide path.

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