The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 07, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 08, 1997
Osamu Hasegawa, Wako, JP;
Tatsurou Horie, Wako, JP;
Yasuyuki Sando, Wako, JP;
Toshihiro Sone, Wako, JP;
Kazuhiko Yagi, Wako, JP;
Yuichi Nakamura, Wako, JP;
Hiromitsu Sato, Wako, JP;
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A battery discharge gas control system, which releases a hydrogen gas generated from the battery assembly when the battery assembly is charged and discharged, is capable of keeping the battery structure highly resistant to water or humidity. The battery discharge gas control system has a battery having a gas release port, a passage connected to the gas release port, a control valve connected to the passage, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the passage, and a control circuit for opening the control valve to release a gas generated by the battery from the passage, depending on the pressure in the passage as detected by the pressure sensor. During a period of time in which no hydrogen gas is generated or a generated hydrogen gas is not plenty enough to be released while the battery is being charged or discharged, the passage is closed for thereby keeping the battery structure highly resistant to water or humidity. The control valve has a solenoid-operated valve openable in response to a control signal outputted by the control circuit, and a relief valve mechanically openable depending on the pressure in the passage. Even in the event of a failure of the solenoid-operated valve, the relief valve is mechanically opened depending on the pressure in the passage, thereby protecting the passage from damage.