Energy storage device and related methods
The present disclosure relates to energy storage devices having: a sealed container configured to house a plurality of energy storage devices and enable electrical communication via terminals of the sealed container and a vent located on a periphery of the sealed container. The vent generally comprises a vent panel; a countersink located adjacent the vent panel; at least one score located in the countersink; a buckling initiator at least partially located on the countersink, where the buckling initiator is configured to intersect with the at least one score; and a hinge portion attached to the vent panel, where the hinge portion is positioned opposite the buckling initiator.
1. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a sealed container configured to house a plurality of energy storage devices and enable electrical communication via terminals of the sealed container; and
(b) a vent located on a periphery of the sealed container, the vent comprising:
(i) a vent panel;
(ii) a countersink located adjacent the vent panel;
(iii) at least one score located in the countersink;
(iv) a buckling initiator at least partially located on the countersink;
wherein the buckling initiator is configured to intersect with the at least one score; and
(v) a hinge portion attached to the vent panel;
wherein the hinge portion is positioned opposite the buckling initiator;
wherein the vent panel is configured to move via the hinge.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vent is integral with the sealed container.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the countersink comprises at least one unscored portion.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a support matrix configured to house at least some of the plurality of electrical storage devices.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the support matrix comprises an energy absorbing material, or a flame arresting material, or both an energy absorbing material and a flame arresting material.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the support matrix is configured to maintain at least some of the plurality of electrical storage devices in spaced relation from each other.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electrical storage devices comprises a Li-ion battery.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the buckling initiator is configured as a score set in a perpendicular direction to the at least one score.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hinge portion is an unscored hinge portion.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the countersink is a circumferential countersink and wherein the at least one score is a circumferential score.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
the circumferential score has a score length;
the hinge portion has a hinge length; and
a ratio of the hinge length to score length is from 0.2 to 0.65.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises:
(iv) a current interrupt device comprising a dome actuator.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vent panel is configured to move outwardly relative to the periphery of the sealed container, via the hinge.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the vent panel is a solid geometric shape.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the vent panel is in the form of a circle.