Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

Reference:
[0001] The present invention relates to an improvement in or modification of the application for main invention described in the patent application 202141019721 filed on 29 April 2021.

Field of the invention:
[0002] The present disclosure relates a sealing member and a battery pack with the sealing member.

Background of the invention:
[0003] A patent literature US2019254188 discloses sealing system for electronics enclosure. A cable entry sealing system providing an electronics enclosure having a first enclosure half and a second enclosure half, the first enclosure half having at least one sidewall having an aperture therein; a radial sealing member, the radial sealing member being positioned between the first enclosure half and the second enclosure half; and a cable entry positioned within the aperture, wherein the cable entry comprises: a cable grommet; and a cable grommet support groove.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0004] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings,
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a sealing member, and first and second type of assembling the sealing member, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates a third assembly type and fourth assembly type, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0007] Fig. 3 illustrates variants of the lips of the sealing member, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0008] Fig. 4 illustrates a profile of the sealing member, according to an embodiment of the present invention., and
[0009] Fig. 5 illustrates deformation of lips of the sealing member and a battery pack, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0010] Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a sealing member, and first and second type of assembling the sealing member, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sealing member 100 to be located between a first part 112 and a second part 114 (shown in Fig. 5) is disclosed. The sealing member 100 comprises a first portion 104 having a loop member with lips 102, and a second portion 106 extending perpendicularly from the first portion 104 in the same direction as that of the lips 102, and integrally formed with the first portion 104. The first portion 104 and the second portion 106 together seals the first part 112 and the second part 114 in radial and axial manner, respectively, characterized in that, the sealing member 100 integrable with the first part 112 through at least one of over-molding and guiding features. In a first assembly 122 of the sealing member 100, the sealing member 100 is over-molded with the first part 112. In other words, the first part 112 is over-molded over the sealing member 100. In a second assembly 124, the sealing member 100 is affixed to the first part 112 through the guiding features 116, 118. The first assembly 122 and the second assembly 124 are shown across a dotted line for simplicity in understanding and explanation.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a backing material 108 is affixed/layered over the first portion 104 and the second portion 106 of the sealing member 100. The layer of the backing material 108 is affixed over the sealing member 100 through 2K molding or other process known in the art. In other words, the sealing member 100 is first integrated with the backing material 108 using 2K molding process to a form a sub-assembly 130 and later integrated with the first part 112.

[0012] In Fig. 1, the process of first assembly 122 is described through two steps 110. In a first step, represented by lowermost figure, the sealing member 100 is integrated with the layer of backing material 108 through 2K molding process forming the sub-assembly 130. In a second step, the sub-assembly 130 is put in mold around which the material of the first part 112 is inserted/injected to form the first part 112. Thus, the sealing member 100 is integrated with the first part 112. During over-molding, the backing material 108 being the same material as the over-mold, fuses with the molding material and forms a single material.

[0013] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, the guided features comprises engagement of a first feature 116 on the sealing member 100 with a second feature 118 of the first part 112 to provide secure fixture. The guided features are obtained by any one selected from a group comprising a snap-lock arrangement, a heat staking process, and a cylindrical lock arrangement.

[0014] The second assembly 124 comprises the use of one of the guiding features. In Fig. 1, the snap lock arrangement based guiding feature is used. The process of second assembly 124 is now explained with three steps 120. In a first step, the sealing member 100 is layered with the backing material 108 through 2K molding process or other process known in the art. Here, a protrusion is formed as the first feature 116. In a second step, the first part 112 is formed with a recess through molding process. The recess is the second feature 118. In other words, the first part 112 and the second part 114 are molded without the sealing material 100. In a third step, the sub-assembly 130 is inserted into the first part 112 where the protrusion goes inside the recess and gets locked. The first feature 116 and the second feature 118 forms the snap lock arrangement when the sub assembly 130 is guided onto the first part 112. Only one recess and protrusion are shown, however, plurality of pairs of recess and protrusion are formed which engages with each other and provide secure locking.

[0015] Fig. 2 illustrates a third assembly type and fourth assembly type, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The third assembly type 202 corresponds to heat staking type sealing assembly within the guiding features. The process of obtaining the third assembly type 202 is explained in four steps 210. The sub-assembly 130 of sealing member 100 with the backing material 108 is first formed in first step. The backing material 108 also comprises a projecting pin as the first feature 116. In a first step, the sub-assembly 130 of sealing member 100 and the backing material 108 is prepared. In second step, the first part 112 is prepared/manufactured/molded with a recess as the second feature 118. In a third step, the sub-assembly 130 is inserted into the recess. In other words, the sub-assembly 130 is assembled onto the first part 112. In a fourth step, the projection pin is subject to heat which deforms the shape of the projection pin and spreads around thereby locking the sealing member 100 at the same position. In other words, the projection pin is heated to form a circular dome which locks the sealing permanently onto the first part 112. Again, only one projection pin is shown with corresponding recess, but plurality of pairs of projection pins and the recess are formed and locked using the third assembly type 202. In Fig. 2, again two types of guiding features are explained which are separated by a dotted line for simplicity in understanding and explanation.

[0016] In a fourth assembly 204, the guiding feature comprises use of cylindrical locking arrangement. Again, the sub-assembly 130 of the sealing member 100 with backing material 108 is formed. The backing material 108 comprises cylindrical projections as the first feature 116 on outer surface which is in contact with the first part 112. The projections are supported by complimentary recess as the second feature 118 in the first part 112 for locking. The cylindrical locking is encircled 212 for representation.

[0017] Fig. 3 illustrates variants of the lips of the sealing member, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The lips 102 of the loop member are designed in at least one of first variant 302 comprising radial dual lip profile, a second variant 304 comprising radial inverted dual lip profile, a third variant 306 comprising radial dual lip with bead profile, a fourth variant 308 comprising radial dual lip concave profile, a fifth variant 310 comprising radial dual lip concave inverted profile, and a sixth variant 312 comprising radial dual lip multi bead profile. The modular sealing is designed to accommodate multiple variants based upon the IPxx requirements for the varying interface geometry. The modular sealing comprises multiple variants with ease of swapping in sealing tool for over molding concept and thereby avoid major lead time in new design and development. The different sealing variants accommodates the variations in IPxx and degassing requirements.

[0018] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing member 100 is disclosed. The sealing member 100 to be located between the first part 112 (cover 502/end cap 504) and the second part 114 (housing 506). The sealing member 100 comprises the first portion 104 having the loop member with lips 102, the second portion 106 extending perpendicularly from the first portion 104 in the same direction as that of the lips 102, and integrally formed with the first portion 104. The first portion 104 and the second portion 106 together seals the first part 112 and the second part 114 in radial and axial manner, respectively, characterized in that, the lips 102 are designed in at least one of the first variant 302 comprising radial dual lip profile, the second variant 304 comprising radial inverted dual lip profile, the third variant 306 comprising radial dual lip with bead profile, the fourth variant 308 comprising radial dual lip concave profile, the fifth variant 310 comprising radial dual lip concave inverted profile, and the sixth variant 312 comprising radial dual lip multi bead profile.

[0019] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing member 100 is disclosed. The sealing member 100 to be located between the first part 112 (cover 502/end cap 504) and the second part 114 (housing 506). The sealing member 100 comprises the first portion 104 with lips 102. The first portion 104 seals the first part 112 and the second part 114 in axial manner, characterized in that, the lips 102 are designed in at least one of the first variant 302 comprising radial dual lip profile, the second variant 304 comprising radial inverted dual lip profile, the third variant 306 comprising radial dual lip with bead profile, the fourth variant 308 comprising radial dual lip concave profile, the fifth variant 310 comprising radial dual lip concave inverted profile, and the sixth variant 312 comprising radial dual lip multi bead profile. In this embodiment, the second portion 106 is not present indicating that the sealing member is without the second portion 106.

[0020] Fig. 4 illustrates a profile of the sealing member, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In a first view 410, an inverted view of a first part 112 is shown. The first part 112 comprises a flange where the sealing member 100 is positioned. The mounting or positioning surface of the first part 112 comprises surface corrugations 402, i.e. series of indents and flat surface around the entire mounting surface of the first part 112. The inner layer of the sealing member 100, which is opposite to the surface comprising the lips 102, is provided with corrugations 404. The corrugations 404 are mated with surface corrugations 402 of the first part 112. The corrugations 404 provides firm mount of the sealing member 100 on a flange of the first part 112.

[0021] In a second view 420, only the sealing member 100 is shown, i.e. without the first part 112. The second view 420 provides clarity un understanding about the corrugations 404. In an embodiment, the first part 112 and the second part 114 are the cover 502 and end cap 504 of a battery pack 500 as shown in Fig. 5. The backing material 108 in the sealing member 100 is provided with corrugations 404 to guide the sub-assembly 130, strengthen the snap area and prevent warpage during assembly.

[0022] Fig. 5 illustrates deformation of lips of the sealing member and a battery pack, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sealing member 100 is used in sealing at least one of the cover 502 and the end cap 504 to a housing 506 of the battery pack 500. The lips 102 are designed to allow degassing through interfacing contact when internal pressure of the housing 506 is above than a threshold value and seals when the internal pressure of the housing 506 is below the threshold value. During operation of the cells within the battery pack 500, gases are released and gets trapped inside the housing 506. During degassing, the internal pressure disengages the sealing from the enclosure/housing 506 interface to form an escape path to relive the excess internal pressure of the battery pack 500. If the pressure of the gases increases beyond the threshold pressure, then the lips 102 are deformed in outward direction allowing the gases to escape out. When the pressure is within the threshold value, then the lips 102 seals back the interface.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing member 100 is disclosed. The sealing member 100 to be located between the first part 112 (cover 502/end cap 504) and the second part 114 (housing 506). The sealing member 100 comprises the first portion 104 having the loop member with lips 102, the second portion 106 extending perpendicularly from the first portion 104 in the same direction as that of the lips 102, and integrally formed with the first portion 104. The first portion 104 and the second portion 106 together seals the first part 112 and the second part 114 in radial and axial manner, respectively, characterized in that, the lips 102 are designed to allow degassing through interfacing contact when internal pressure within the second part 114 is above than the threshold value and seals when the internal pressure within the second part 114 is below the threshold value. The first part 112 is at least one of the cover 502 and the end cap 504, and the second part 114 of the housing 506 of the battery pack 500.

[0024] As per Fig. 5, and in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, the battery pack 500 is disclosed. The battery pack 500 comprising the first part 112, the second part 114 and the sealing member 100 located between the first part 112 and the second part 114. The sealing member 100 comprises the first portion 104 having the loop member with lips 102, the second portion 106 extending perpendicularly from the first portion 104 in the same direction as that of the lips 102, and integrally formed with the first portion 104. The first portion 104 and the second portion 106 together seals the first part 112 and the second part 114 in radial and axial manner, respectively, characterized in that, the first part 112 is integrated with the sealing member 100 through any one of the over-molding and guiding features.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the backing material 108 is layered over the first portion 104 and the second portion 106. The sealing member 100 with the backing material 108 is over-molded with the first part 112. The layer of the backing material 108 is applied through 2K molding or any other process known in the art.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the guided features comprises engagement of the first feature 116 on the sealing member 100 with the second feature 118 on the first part 112 to provide secure fixture. The guided features are obtained by any one selected from the snap-lock arrangement, the heat staking process, and the cylindrical lock arrangement.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the battery pack 500, the lips 102 of the sealing member 100 are designed to allow degassing (directional arrows) through interfacing contact when internal pressure within the second part 114 is above than the threshold value and seals when the internal pressure within the second part 114 is below the threshold value. The first part 112 is at least one of the cover 502 and the end cap 504, and the second part 114 is the housing 506 of the battery pack 500. The battery pack 500 comprises a breather membrane to ensure pressure equalization during normal operation. In case of venting and pressure build up, the sealing member 100 gives way to release the excess pressure inside the battery pack 500.

[0028] According to an example as per the present invention, the material of the sealing member 100 is TC5PCN and the plastic material used for the first part 112 and the second part 114 is PA6-GF30 FR. The battery pack 500 comprises the breather membrane to ensure pressure equalization during normal operation. In case of venting and pressure build up, the sealing member 100 gives way to release the excess pressure inside the battery pack 500.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a modular sealing member 100 for the first part 112 and the second part 114 (or front panel and back panel) of the battery pack 500 to cater ingress protection and degassing is disclosed. The front panel and back panel refers to cover 502 and the end cap 504, respectively. The sealing member 100 is usable on a traction battery for a vehicle. The present invention discloses modular sealing with variants of form factor catering to multiple IPxx (such as IP54, IP67) and degassing requirements of the battery pack 500. The assembled sealing member 100 facilitates venting path to prevent accumulation of gases in the battery pack 500 which leads to hazardous situation such as thermal runaway.

[0030] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, C , Claims:We claim:
1. A sealing member (100), said sealing member (100) to be located between a first part (112) and a second part (114), said sealing member (100) comprises:
a first portion (104) having a loop member with lips (102), and
a second portion (106) extending perpendicularly from said first portion (104) in the same direction as that of the lips (102), and integrally formed with said first portion (104), said first portion (104) and said second portion (106) together seals said first part (112) and said second part (114) in radial and axial manner, respectively, characterized in that,
said sealing member (100) integrable with said first part (112) through at least one of over-molding and guiding features.

2. The sealing member (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a backing material (108) is layered over said first portion (104) and said second portion (106), and said sealing member (100) with said backing material (108) is over-molded with said first part (112), wherein layer of said backing material (108) is applied through 2K molding.

3. The sealing member (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guided features comprises engagement of a first feature (116) on said sealing member (100) with a second feature (118) of said first part (112) to provide secure fixture, wherein said guided features are obtained by any one selected from a group comprising a snap-lock arrangement, a heat staking process, and a cylindrical lock arrangement.

4. The sealing member (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lips (102) of said sealing member (100) are designed in at least one of first variant (302) comprising radial dual lip profile, a second variant (304) comprising radial inverted dual lip profile, a third variant (306) comprising radial dual lip with bead profile, a fourth variant (308) comprising radial dual lip concave profile, a fifth variant (310) comprising radial dual lip concave inverted profile, and a sixth variant (312) comprising radial dual lip multi bead profile.

5. The sealing member (100) as claimed in claim 1 is used in sealing at least one of a cover (502) and an end cap (504) to a housing (506) of a battery pack (500), wherein said lips (102) are designed to allow degassing through interfacing contact when internal pressure is above than a threshold value and seals when said internal pressure is below said threshold value.

6. A sealing member (100), said sealing member (100) to be located between a first part (112) and a second part (114), said sealing member (100) comprises:
a first portion (104) having a loop member with lips (102), and
a second portion (106) extending perpendicularly from said first portion (104) in the same direction as that of the lips (102), and integrally formed with said first portion (104), said first portion (104) and said second portion (106) together seals said first part (112) and said second part (114) in radial and axial manner, respectively, characterized in that,
said lips (102) are designed to allow degassing through interfacing contact when internal pressure within said second part (114) is above than a threshold value and seals when said internal pressure within said second part (114) is below said threshold value, wherein said first part (112) is at least one of a cover (502) and an end cap (504), and said second part (114) is a housing (506) of a battery pack (500).

7. A battery pack (500), said battery pack (500) comprising a first part (112), a second part (114) and a sealing member (100) located between said first part (112) and said second part (114), said sealing member (100) comprises:
a first portion (104) having a loop member with lips (102),
a second portion (106) extending perpendicularly from said first portion (104) in the same direction as that of said lips (102), and integrally formed with said first portion (104), said first portion (104) and said second portion (106) together seals said first part (112) and said second part (114) in radial and axial manner, respectively, characterized in that,
said first part (112) is integrated with said sealing member (100) through any one of an over-molding and guiding features.

8. The battery pack (500) as claimed in claim 7, comprises a backing material (108) layered over said first portion (104) and said second portion (106), and said sealing member (100) with said backing material (108) is over-molded with said first part (112), wherein layer of said backing material (108) is applied through 2K molding.

9. The battery pack (500) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said guided features comprises engagement of a first feature (116) on said sealing member (100) with a second feature (118) of said first part (112) to provide secure fixture, wherein said guided features are obtained by any one selected from a group comprising a snap-lock arrangement, a heat staking process, and a cylindrical lock arrangement.

10. The battery pack (500) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said lips (102) are designed to allow degassing through interfacing contact when internal pressure within said second part (114) is above than a threshold value and seals when said internal pressure within said second part (114) is below said threshold value, wherein said first part (112) is at least one of a cover (502) and an end cap (504), and said second part (114) is a housing (506) of said battery pack (500).