IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,078,265
Granted Patent B2
US 12,078,265 · App. 18/199,010 · Granted Sep 3, 2024

Vent with relief valve

Inventors: Jacob Sanders (Burnsville, MN); Michael J. Hebert (St. Paul, MN); Daniel Dotzler (Webster, MN); Koen Gatz (Hasselt, BE)
Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
F16K47/08F16K15/148F16K24/04Y10T137/7849Y10T137/86332
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,078,265
App. No.
18/199,010
Granted
Sep 3, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vent assembly has a housing defining a cavity, a first end, a second end, a vent opening, a valve opening, and a coupling structure towards the second end. The housing defines a valve opening and a vent opening. A vent is coupled to the housing across the vent opening, and a one-way relief valve is sealably disposed on the housing across a valve opening.

Claims (29)

1. A vent assembly comprising:

a housing defining a cavity, a first end, a second end, a vent opening, a valve opening, and a coupling structure towards the second end;

a passive airflow vent disposed in the housing across the vent opening, wherein the housing defines a housing opening between an ambient environment and the cavity to define a first fluid flow pathway between the ambient environment and the passive airflow vent, and the first fluid flow pathway is towards the first end; and

a one-way relief valve disposed in the housing and forming a seal over the valve opening wherein the one-way relief valve is configured to relieve pressure from the second end towards the first end,

wherein the one-way relief valve is arranged in parallel with the passive airflow vent with respect to airflow through the housing, wherein the passive airflow vent and the one-way relief valve share a central axis, and wherein the valve opening comprises a plurality of openings defining a segmented annulus about the central axis, and

wherein the fluid flow pathway defines a tortuous path between the housing opening and the one-way relief valve.

2. The vent assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an end cap coupled to the housing towards the first end.

3. The vent assembly of claim 2 , wherein the end cap defines the first end of the housing and the end cap extends across the one-way relief valve and the passive airflow vent.

4. The vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the passive airflow vent comprises a breathable membrane.

5. The vent assembly of claim 1 , the housing comprising a first obstruction, wherein the first obstruction is positioned between the housing opening and the passive airflow vent.

6. The vent assembly of claim 1 , the housing comprising a second obstruction extending into the fluid flow pathway, wherein the second obstruction is positioned between the housing opening and the one-way relief valve.

7. The vent assembly of claim 1 , the coupling structure defining a second fluid flow pathway between an outside of the housing and the passive airflow vent.

8. The vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupling structure defines a second fluid flow pathway between an outside of the housing and the passive airflow vent, and the one-way relief valve is configured to unseal when the pressure in the second fluid flow pathway is greater than the pressure in the first fluid flow pathway by 0.5 to 1 psi.

9. The vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing further defines a mounting surface that defines the vent opening.

10. The vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vent opening is a plurality of openings defining a segmented annulus about the central axis.

11. The vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one-way relief valve is an umbrella valve.

12. The vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines radial openings about the central axis, wherein the radial openings define the first fluid flow pathway.

13. The vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the passive airflow vent and the one-way relief valve are concentric.

14. The vent assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a seal abutting the coupling structure.

15. A vent assembly comprising:

a housing defining a cavity, a first end, a second end, a vent opening, a valve opening, and a coupling structure towards the second end;

a passive airflow vent disposed in the housing across the vent opening, wherein the housing defines a housing opening between an ambient environment and the cavity to define a first fluid flow pathway between the ambient environment and the passive airflow vent, and the first fluid flow pathway is towards the first end; and

a one-way relief valve disposed in the housing and forms a seal over the valve opening, wherein the one-way relief valve is configured to relieve pressure from the second end towards the first end,

wherein the one-way relief valve is arranged in parallel with the passive airflow vent with respect to airflow through the housing, wherein the passive airflow vent and the one-way relief valve share a central axis, and wherein the vent opening is a plurality of openings defining a segmented annulus about the central axis.

16. The vent assembly of claim 15 , wherein the one-way relief valve is constructed of an elastomeric material.

17. The vent assembly of claim 15 , wherein the passive airflow vent comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

18. The vent assembly of claim 15 , wherein the coupling structure defines one in the group consisting of a snap-fit and a screw fit that is configured to engage a battery housing.

19. The vent assembly of claim 15 , wherein the coupling structure defines a second fluid flow pathway between an outside of the housing and the passive airflow vent, and the one-way relief valve is configured to unseal when the pressure in the second fluid flow pathway is greater than the pressure in the first fluid flow pathway by 0.5 to 1 psi.

20. The vent assembly of claim 15 , wherein the valve opening comprises a plurality of openings defining a segmented annulus about the central axis.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2023
From: SANDERS, JACOB L.; HEBERT, MICHAEL J.; DOTZLER, DANIEL J.; GATZ, KOEN
To: DONALDSON COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 065515/0068 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17359147 · Jun 25, 2021
Continuation 16497596
Provisional Application 62478872 · Mar 30, 2017
Related Publication 20230287991A1 · Sep 14, 2023