# US 2018/0323013 A1 · Pressure valve and electrolytic capacitor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323013 A1 - Document ID: US20180323013A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/769,415 - Filed: 2016-10-07 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-21 - Assignees: Nichicon Corporation - Applicants: Nichicon Corporation - Inventors: Mitsuru YONEDA; Takaya SAKAI; Kenta KAWANISHI; Kazuya YAMANAKA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323013A1 ## CPC - H01G 9/12: Vents or other means allowing expansion - F16K 17/02: opening on surplus pressure on one side; closing on insufficient pressure on one side (check valves F16K15/00) - H01G 9/10: Sealing, e.g. of lead-in wires - H01G 11/18: against thermal overloads, e.g. heating, cooling or ventilating - H01G 11/78: Cases; Housings; Encapsulations; Mountings - H01G 11/80: Gaskets; Sealings - Y02E 60/13: Energy storage using capacitors - H01G: CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE (selection of specified materials as dielectric H01B3/00; capacitors having potential barriers H10D1/62, H10K10/10) - 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)} - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A pressure valve to be arranged in a seal member sealing a casing in which a capacitor element is housed, the pressure valve having a base end positioned within the case and a tip positioned outside the case. The pressure valve includes a tapered portion having a tapered shape. At the top portion of the tapered portion, there is formed a slit able to undergo a state change between a close-state and an open-state by elastic deformation. When the casing internal pressure is less than a certain value, the slit maintains the close-state. When the casing internal pressure has reached the certain value, the slit undergoes a state change to the open-state, whereby the inside and outside of the case communicate with each other and the internal pressure is released from within the case. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pressure valve to be arranged in a seal member configured to seal a casing accommodating therein a capacitor element, in such a manner that a base end of the pressure valve is positioned inside the casing whereas a tip of the pressure valve is positioned outside the casing, the pressure valve comprising a tapered portion having a tapered shape, wherein a top portion of the tapered portion has a slit which is state-changeable between an open-state and a close-state through elastic deformation; and the slit is formed in a tapered shape such that a width of one end portion of the top portion relative to its thickness direction is wider than another end portion, the slit keeps its close-state while a casing internal pressure is less than a certain value, whereas the slit changes its state to the open-state when the casing internal pressure reaches the certain value, thereby releasing the casing internal pressure by communicating the inside and the outside of the casing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pressure valve according to claim 1, wherein the tapered portion is formed in a circular frustum shape or a polygonal frustum shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pressure valve according to claim 1, wherein: the top portion of the tapered portion has a flat shape such that a length relative to a first direction which is perpendicular to an axial direction connecting the tip and the base end is longer than a second direction which is perpendicular to the axial direction and to the first direction, and the slit extends in a direction crossing the first direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The pressure valve according to claim 3, wherein the tapered shape is such that the thickness relative to the first direction is constant irrespective of the height relative to the axial direction, and the thickness relative to the second direction is reduced as it gets closer to the tip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The pressure valve according to claim 3, wherein the slit extends in the second direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pressure valve according to claim 1, wherein the slit is rectilinearly formed in a plan view. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pressure valve according to claim 1, wherein the slit is formed in a tapered shape such that a width of the slit relative to its extending direction is widened as it gets closer to the tip. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pressure valve according to claim 1, comprising a valve main body to be at least partially arranged in a through hole formed on the seal member, and a flange connected to the base end of the valve main body, whose diameter is larger than the through hole, wherein the tapered portion is formed at the tip of the valve main body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An electrolytic capacitor, comprising: the pressure valve according to claim 1; a seal member in which the pressure valve is arranged; a casing sealed by the seal member; and a capacitor element accommodated in the casing.