# US 2013/0276408 A1 · Exhaust valve

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- Number: US 2013/0276408 A1
- Document ID: US20130276408A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/978,700
- Filed: 2011-10-27
- Published: 2013-10-24
- Earliest claimed: 2011-10-27
- Assignees: Peking University
- Inventors: Jiyan Huo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130276408A1

## CPC

- B65B 17/00: Other machines, apparatus, or methods for packaging articles or materials
- B65B 7/2842: {Securing closures on containers (in general B65B51/00)}
- B65B 31/00: Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
- B65B 63/08: for heating or cooling articles or materials to facilitate packaging
- F16K 31/002: {actuated by temperature variation (thermo-electric F16K31/025)}
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}

## Abstract

Various embodiments of exhaust valves are described. In an example, an exhaust valve assembly includes a valve body having a cylinder, a piston disposed within the cylinder, and a sealing material disposed within a trough at the bottom of the cylinder. The selection of the sealing material may be based on an operational temperature that is above a melting point of the sealing material.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-31. (canceled)

### Claim 32

A method, comprising:
placing a raw material in a container comprising an opening;
removably coupling the opening in the container with an exhaust valve assembly comprising:
a valve body comprising a cylinder and a trough disposed within the cylinder along a bottom portion of the valve body;
a piston slideably engaged within the cylinder, wherein at least a portion of the piston is configured to reside within the trough when the piston is in a resting position; and
a piston sealing material disposed within the trough, wherein the piston sealing material has a melting point below a first operational temperature;
heating the container holding the raw material to generate an exhaust gas, wherein the exhaust gas passes through the opening, elevates the piston, and melts the piston sealing material;
allowing the container to cool to cease generation of exhaust gas, wherein a decrease in exhaust gas pressure allows the piston to return to the resting position, wherein the piston sealing material solidifies as the container cools, thereby creating a substantially air-tight seal.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, further comprising removing the exhaust valve assembly from the opening of the container.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the raw material is lithium iron phosphate.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, wherein the first operational temperature is based on an exhaust gas temperature for a lithium iron phosphate pre-sintering process.

### Claim 36 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the first operational temperature is between 200° C. and 400° C.

### Claim 37 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the first operational temperature is between 200° C. and 500° C.

### Claim 38 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the first operational temperature is between 300° C. and 400° C.

### Claim 39 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the first operational temperature is between 300° C. and 500° C.

### Claim 40 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the exhaust valve assembly is removably coupled to the opening of the container by screwing a threaded surface on the outer periphery of the valve body into a receptive threaded surface disposed along an inner periphery of the opening of the container, and wherein a thread sealing material is compressed within the threaded surfaces of the valve body and the opening of the container.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The method of claim 40, wherein the thread sealing material comprises a powdery mixed metallic material.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, further comprising forming the thread sealing material into a shaped wire band.

### Claim 43 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, further comprising positioning a retention plate within the valve body above the piston.

### Claim 44 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the piston comprises a high temperature resistant ceramic material.

### Claim 45 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the valve body further comprises a spring configured to exert an downward force on the piston.

### Claim at position 16

46-57. (canceled)