Fuel container, fuel supply method, fuel filling method, and fuel cell system

• US 20050189035A1
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Shuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,314,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/94
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/00 Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks tanks in general B65D, F17C; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03 Fuel tanks chassis frame comprising fluid storage compartment B62D21/16 ; Details of the fuel feeding system related to the fuel tank F02M37/0076
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03197 Systems for exchanging data
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04373 of auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04425 at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04604 Power, energy, capacity or load
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04686 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04776 at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformer, compressor, burner
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cartridge includes a fuel tank which stores fuel to be supplied to a fuel cell of a main device, and a storage unit which stores information on type of fuel, remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, and number of times the fuel tank has been used. The fuel cartridge is formed separate from the fuel cell.

Claims

1. A fuel container comprising:

a fuel tank adapted to store the fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell of the main device; and

a storage unit configured to store information, including at least one of information on type of fuel, information on remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, and information on number of times the fuel tank has been used

wherein said fuel container is formed separately from said fuel cell of a main device.

2. A fuel container according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connection portion detachably connected to the main device;

a supply port facilitating supplying the fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel cell; and

a communication unit wirelessly communicating the information to the main device.

3. A fuel container according to claim 2, further comprising an inlet having a first portion adapted to connect to the supply port, and a second portion configured to inject the fuel into the fuel tank.

4. A method of supplying fuel to a main device having a fuel cell mounted thereto, comprising the following steps:

a step of connecting a fuel container storing fuel to the main device having the fuel cell;

a step of wirelessly communicating, between the main device and the fuel container, information of at least one of type of fuel, remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, and number of times the fuel tank has been used; and

a step of determining whether to supply the fuel from the fuel container to the fuel cell based on the information wirelessly communicated in the wireless communication step.

5. A method according to claim 4,

wherein the determining step includes a step of determining whether the fuel from the fuel container is an acceptable fuel type for the main device, and

the method further comprising a step of supplying the fuel from the fuel container to the fuel cell responsive to determining that the fuel from the fuel container is an acceptable fuel type.

6. A method according to claim 4,

wherein the determining step includes a step of determining whether an amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank is about a predetermined amount or more, and

the method further comprising a step of supplying the fuel from the fuel container to the fuel cell responsive to determining that the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank is about the predetermined amount or more.

7. A method according to claim 4,

wherein the determining step includes a step of determining whether a number of usage of the fuel tank is a predetermined number or less,

the method further comprising a step of supplying the fuel from the fuel container to the fuel cell responsive to determining that the number of usage of the fuel tank is the predetermined number or less.

8. A method according to claim 4, wherein the information includes identification information of the fuel tank and identification information of the fuel cell, and

wherein the determining step includes a step of determining whether to supply the fuel from the fuel container to the fuel cell based on the identification information of the fuel tank and the fuel cell.

9. A method according to claim 4, wherein the connecting step includes a step of connecting a plurality of fuel cartridges, in at least one of parallel and serial with respect to each other, to the main device.

10. A fuel filling method, comprising the following steps:

a step of connecting a fuel cartridge adapted to store fuel to a fuel filling main unit loading a fuel for filling;

a step of wirelessly communicating, between the fuel filling main unit and the fuel cartridge, information on at least one of type of fuel, remaining amount of fuel in the fuel cartridge, and number of times the fuel cartridge has been used; and

a step of determining, by the fuel filling main unit, whether to fill the fuel cartridge with the fuel for filling based on the information communicated in the wireless communication step.

11. A fuel filling method according to claim 10, wherein the determining step includes a step of determining whether a type of the fuel for filling is an acceptable type of fuel, and the method further comprising a step of filling the fuel cartridge with the fuel for filling responsive to determining that the type of the fuel for filling is an acceptable type of fuel.

12. A fuel filling method according to claim 10, wherein the determining step includes a step of determining whether an amount of fuel remaining in the fuel cartridge is a predetermined amount, and the method further comprising a step of filling the fuel cartridge with the fuel for filling responsive to determining that the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel cartridge is the predetermined amount.

13. A fuel filling method according to claim 10, wherein the determining step includes a step of determining whether a number of usage of the fuel cartridge is a predetermined number, and the method further comprising a step of filling the fuel cartridge with the fuel for filling responsive to determining that the number of usage is the predetermined number.

14. A fuel filling method according to claim 10, wherein the information includes identification information of the fuel cartridge and identification information of the fuel for filling, and

wherein the determining step includes a step of determining by the fuel filling main unit whether to supply the fuel for filling to the fuel cartridge based on the identification information of the fuel cartridge and the fuel for filling.

15. A fuel filling method according to claim 10, wherein the connecting step includes connecting a plurality of fuel cartridges in at least one of parallel or serial to the fuel filling main unit.

16. A fuel cell system comprising:

a main device having a fuel cell mounted thereto;

a fuel container separate from the fuel cell, the fuel container comprising;

a fuel tank adapted to store the fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell of the main device;

a storage unit configured to store information on at least one of type of fuel, remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, and number of times the fuel tank has been used; and

a communication unit wirelessly communicating the information to the main device; and

a control unit controlling supply of the fuel from the fuel container to the fuel cell based on the information.