Fuel cell cartridge connector

• US 20060024554A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: UltraCell Corporation (Bren-Tronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: UltraCell Corporation (Bren-Tronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaye, Ian W., Kaschmitter, James L.
• Application Number:
  US11/228,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20060024554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/506
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0128 spherical or elliptical
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0157 Polygonal
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0166 divided in several chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/018 with bladders
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/019 with pistons
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0195 with bellows
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0636 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0646 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/066 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0663 in form of fibers or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0697 comprising nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0341 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/037 Quick connecting means, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/054 by bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/055 by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/057 by chips
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/058 by Radio Frequency Identification
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/035 : Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0153 : Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/033 : Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0128 : with pumps or compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 : using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/036 : using alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/028 : Avoiding unauthorised transfer
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/036 : Avoiding leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/056 : Improving fluid characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0763 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 3/00 : Vessels not under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 : of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 : Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 : Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04014 : Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04022 : Heating by combustion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 : of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 : Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 : Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04626 : of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• 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: H01M 8/04917 : of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 : Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 : Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells

Abstract

Described herein is a portable storage device that stores a hydrogen fuel source. The storage device includes a bladder that contains the hydrogen fuel source and conforms to the volume of the hydrogen fuel source. A housing provides mechanical protection for the bladder. The storage device also includes a connector that interfaces with a mating connector to permit transfer of the fuel source between the bladder and a device that includes the mating connector. The device may be a portable electronics device such as a laptop computer. Refillable hydrogen fuel source storage devices and systems are also described. Hot swappable fuel storage systems described herein allow a portable hydrogen fuel source storage device to be removed from a fuel processor or electronics device it provides the hydrogen fuel source to, without shutting down the receiving device or without compromising hydrogen fuel source provision.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a device that includes a first connector having keyed dimensions; and

a portable methanol cartridge configured to store methanol and including a second connector a) having keyed dimensions that match the keyed dimensions of the first connector and b) that interfaces with the first connector to permit transfer of the methanol between the cartridge and the device that includes a first connector,

wherein the keyed dimensions are configured to prevent a non-keyed connector that does not include the keyed dimensions from interfacing with the first connector or the second connector, and

wherein the keyed dimensions are unique to a manufacturer.

2. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the keyed dimensions are unique to a manufacturer of the methanol cartridge.

3. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the keyed dimensions are unique to a manufacturer of the device that includes the first connector.

4. The fuel cell system of claim 3 wherein the device that includes the first connector also includes a fuel cell.

5. The fuel cell system of claim 3 wherein the device that includes the first connector is a refilling device configured to transfer the methanol to the cartridge.

6. The fuel cell system of claim 3 wherein the device that includes the first connector is a portable electronics device.

7. The fuel cell system of claim 6 wherein the portable electronics device is a laptop computer.

8. The fuel cell system of claim 7 wherein the keyed dimensions are unique to a model for the laptop computer.

9. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the keyed dimensions include one of:

a custom geometry, a custom depth and a custom size.

10. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the first connector or the second connector includes a unique feature that distinguishes the first connector or the second connector from a connector having the keyed dimensions but not including the unique feature.

11. The fuel cell system of claim 10 wherein the unique feature is included in a newer version of the cartridge and the unique feature mechanically distinguishes, for the manufacturer, the newer version of the cartridge from an older version of the cartridge.

12. A portable hydrogen fuel source cartridge for storing a hydrogen fuel source, the cartridge comprising:

a bladder that contains the hydrogen fuel source;

a housing that provides mechanical protection for the bladder; and

a connector that interfaces with a mating connector to permit transfer of the fuel source between the bladder and a device that includes the mating connector,

wherein the connector is recessed so as to not protrude from an outside surface of the housing.

13. The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the connector is a female counterpart to a male mating connector.

14. The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the connector includes a first tube and the mating connector includes a second tube that aligns with the first tube when the connector and mating connector interface.

15. The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the housing is integrally formed.

16. The cartridge of claim 15 wherein the housing is extruded from a common material.

17. The cartridge of claim 15 wherein the housing is permanently bonded.

18. The cartridge of claim 15 wherein the housing is integrally formed such that access to the bladder is only achieved through destruction of a wall included in the housing.

19. A fuel cell system comprising:

a device that includes a fuel cell and a first connector; and

a hydrogen fuel source storage device configured to store a hydrogen fuel source and includes a second connector that interfaces with the first connector,

wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured to permit i) a connect that mechanical couples the device that includes a fuel cell and the storage device and enables fluid communication between the storage device and the device that includes the fuel cell and ii) a disconnect that mechanical decouples the device that includes the fuel cell and the storage device and disables fluid communication between the storage device and the device that includes the fuel cell,

wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured to require two hands to disconnect the storage device and the device that includes the fuel cell.

20. The fuel cell system of claim 19 further comprising one or more latching elements that bind the connector and the mating connector until physically released with two hands.

21. The fuel cell system of claim 19 wherein the storage device further includes a rigid outer wall and the second connector is recessed so as to not protrude from the rigid outer wall.

22. The fuel cell system of claim 19 wherein the first connector is recessed so as to not protrude from an external wall of the device that includes the fuel cell.

23. The fuel cell system of claim 19 wherein the first connector and the second connector each only permit fluid communication when mechanically interfaced with the other.

24. The fuel cell system of claim 19 further comprising a small sponge or swab configured to collect the hydrogen fuel source during connection or disconnection between the first connector and the second connector.