# US 11,909,069 B2 · Energy storage apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,909,069 B2 - Document ID: US11909069B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/839,186 - Filed: 2022-06-13 - Published: 2022-09-29 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-12 - Assignees: GS Yuasa International Ltd. - Applicants: Gs Yuasa International Ltd. - Inventors: Toshiki Kusunoki; Osamu Ushijima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909069B2 ## CPC - H01M 50/394: {Gas-pervious parts or elements} - H01M 50/317: Re-sealable arrangements - H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries - H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)} - H01M 50/367: Internal gas exhaust passages forming part of the battery cover or case; Double cover vent systems - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract An energy storage apparatus includes one or more energy storage devices and an outer housing that houses the one or more energy storage devices. The outer housing includes an opening that allows communication between an interior and an exterior of the outer housing. The opening is sealed by a first pressure adjuster and a second pressure adjuster arranged complementary to each other. The first pressure adjuster allows passage of gas and prohibits passage of liquid. The second pressure adjuster prohibits passage of the gas and the liquid, and releases an internal pressure in the interior of the outer housing when the internal pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An energy storage apparatus comprising: one or more energy storage devices; and an outer housing that houses the one or more energy storage devices, wherein the outer housing includes a communication part defining a passageway allowing communication between an interior and an exterior of the outer housing, wherein the communication part is tubular and protrudes from the outer housing, wherein the communication part includes a functional membrane that allows passage of gas and prohibits passage of liquid, wherein the functional membrane is disposed at a location closer to the interior of the outer housing than the exterior of the outer housing, and wherein a direction of passing through the functional membrane is along a central axis of the communication part. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more energy storage devices includes a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal arranged in a first direction, and wherein the communication part extends along a second direction intersecting the first direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication part extends along a third direction intersecting a direction in which the energy storage devices are arranged. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit substrate electrically connected to the one or more energy storage devices. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outs r housing includes: an outer housing main body that houses the one or more energy storage devices; a cover that closes an opening of the outer housing main body; and an outer terminal disposed on the cover, and wherein the communication part is formed on the cover. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer housing includes an outer housing main body that houses the one or more energy storage devices, a cover that closes an opening of the outer housing main body, and an outer terminal disposed on the cover, and wherein the communication part is formed on the outer housing main body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication part includes a shield component arranged so as to maintain communication between the interior and the exterior of the outer housing. ### Claim 8 An energy storage apparatus comprising: one or more energy storage devices; and an outer housing that houses the one or more energy storage devices, wherein the outer housing includes a communication part defining a passageway allowing communication between an interior and an exterior of the outer housing, wherein the communication part protrudes from the outer housing, wherein the communication part includes a functional membrane that allows passage of gas and prohibits passage of liquid, and wherein a direction of passing through the functional membrane is along a central axis of the communication part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the communication part is tubular and defines an internal passageway inside the outer housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a circuit substrate electrically connected to the one or more energy storage devices. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the outer housing includes: an outer housing main body that houses the one or more energy storage devices; a cover that closes an opening of the outer housing main body; and an outer terminal disposed on the cover, and wherein the communication part is formed on the cover. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the outer housing includes an outer housing main body that houses the one or more energy storage devices, a cover that closes an opening of the outer housing main body, and an outer terminal disposed on the cover, and wherein the communication part is formed on the outer housing main body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the communication part includes a shield component arranged so as to maintain communication between the interior and the exterior of the outer housing. ### Claim 14 An energy storage apparatus comprising: one or more energy storage devices; and an outer housing that houses the one or more energy storage devices, wherein the outer housing includes: a communication part defining a passageway allowing communication between an interior and an exterior of the outer housing; and an outer terminal protruding from the outer housing, wherein the communication part is tubular and protrudes from the outer housing, wherein the communication part includes a functional membrane that allows passage of gas and prohibits passage of liquid, wherein the functional membrane is disposed at a location closer to the interior of the outer housing than the exterior of the outer housing, wherein a direction of passing through the functional membrane is along a central axis of the communication part, and wherein the central axis of the communication part intersects a direction from which the external terminal protrudes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of the one or more energy storage devices includes a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal arranged in a first direction, and wherein the communication part extends along a second direction intersecting the first direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the communication part extends along a third direction intersecting a direction in which the energy storage devices are arranged. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a circuit substrate electrically connected to the one or more energy storage devices. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the outer housing includes: an outer housing main body that houses the one or more energy storage devices; a cover that closes an opening of the outer housing main body; and the outer terminal disposed on the cover, and wherein the communication part is formed on the cover. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the outer housing includes an outer housing main body that houses the one or more energy storage devices, a cover that closes an opening of the outer housing main body, and the outer terminal disposed on the cover, and wherein the communication part is formed on the outer housing main body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The energy storage apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the communication part includes a shield component arranged so as to maintain communication between the interior and the exterior of the outer housing.