Eaton Debuts 3-in-1 Battery Pack Vent Valve for EVs

Eaton, an intelligent power management based in Galesburg (east of Kalamazoo), announced its eMobility business has introduced a three-in-one battery pack vent valve for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
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Eaton's three-in-one battery pack vent valve. // Courtesy of Eaton
Eaton’s three-in-one battery pack vent valve. // Courtesy of Eaton

Eaton, an intelligent power management based in Galesburg (east of Kalamazoo), announced its eMobility business has introduced a three-in-one battery pack vent valve for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

The valve is uniquely positioned by being capable of three unique functions, including a battery case leak-check mechanism as well as passive and active venting to provide overpressure relief for a vehicle’s battery pack.

“Following the recent introduction of our single-stage battery vent, we continue to add to our battery safety portfolio,” says Jens Buhlinger, manager of battery technology development for Eaton’s Vehicle Group. “We’re excited to offer a three-in-one technology that helps ensure the system integrity of increasingly powerful EVs.”

The vent’s battery case leak-check feature eliminates the need to install the vent valve as the final step of the battery assembly process, which is the standard in today’s EV architectures. Leak testing with Eaton’s battery vent valve is more thorough than traditional methods, as it includes testing the sealing surface of the vent itself when the battery vent valve is already assembled.

Eaton also developed a tool for its customers to actuate the leak-check mechanism on their assembly lines, allowing for testing through pressurization or a vacuum.

Eaton’s three-in-one battery vent valve is precisely and flexibly designed to meet specific opening pressures and optimize venting. Its spring-based actuation technology allows Eaton to accommodate different opening pressure requirements with the same valve design to drive economies of scale.

The valve’s proven resealing technology enables manufacturers to specify very low opening pressures. The vent valve also features a low-flow breathing mode that allows air to move through porous material to normalize pressure during regular operation.

“Our new three-in-one battery vent valve can be assembled both through our robust quick-connect feature or by a screwed metal-to-metal connection, providing our customers the freedom to choose their preferred assembly method, while ensuring a sturdy connection that stays in place,” Buhlinger says.

To learn more about Eaton’s three-in-one battery pack vent valve, click here.