Devices for the supplying fuel to fuel cells

• US 20060172171A1
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG
• Original Assignee: SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG
• Inventors: Rensch, Rafael, Koll, Andreas, Rebsamen, Christoph, Deinzer, Klaus
• Application Number:
  US10/495,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20060172171A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/443
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04 Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

This invention relates to a fuel cartridge for the supply of a fuel cell device, with an outlet device, which is formed such that it can be opened by an opening device of a cartridge receptacle device appropriate to the fuel cartridge. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cartridge receptacle device for a fuel cartridge of this type which comprises guidance and retention devices for guiding and retaining the fuel cartridge, opening devices for opening the fuel cartridge, and fuel extraction devices for extracting the fuel from the fuel cartridge. In addition the invention relates to a fuel cell device with this type of cartridge receptacle device.

Claims

1. Fuel cartridge for the supply of a fuel cell device, with an outlet device, which is formed such that it can be opened by an opening device of a cartridge receptacle device appropriate to the fuel cartridge.

2. Fuel cartridge according to claim 1, with a device to apply pressure to the fuel in a fuel chamber of the fuel cartridge.

3. Fuel cartridge according to claim 2, in which the device applying the pressure comprises a gas.

4. Fuel cartridge according to claim 2, in which the device for applying the pressure comprises a compression spring.

5. Fuel cartridge according to one of the claims 2 to 4claim 2, in which the device for applying the pressure comprises devices in order to apply pressure to the fuel in the fuel cartridge by the application of an external force.

6. Fuel cartridge according to claim 1, with a closure device closing off the outlet device of the cartridge, the said closure device enabling a reversible opening and closure of the fuel cartridge.

7. Fuel cartridge according to claim 1, with a filling level indicator to indicate the level of fuel in the cartridge.

8. Fuel cartridge according to claim 1, with a dosing device to control a fuel flow from the cartridge.

9. Fuel cartridge according to claim 8, whereby the dosing device comprises a pump device.

10. Fuel cartridge according to claim 9, whereby the pump device comprises a micropump.

11. Fuel cartridge according to claim 8, whereby the dosing device comprises at least one valve which can be actuated.

12. Fuel cartridge according to claim 11, whereby the at least one valve can be actuated magnetically or piezoelectrically.

13. Fuel cartridge according to claim 11, whereby the at least one valve comprises a needle valve and/or a disc valve and/or a slide valve.

14. Fuel cartridge according to claim 1, for application as a refill cartridge for filling a fuel tank of the fuel cell device.

15. Fuel cartridge according to claim 1, for application as a tank cartridge.

16. Fuel cartridge according to claim 1 with a safety device, which is damaged during a process of insertion into the cartridge receptacle device and/or a process of removal from the cartridge receptacle device.

17. Cartridge receptacle device for a fuel cartridge according claim 1, comprising:

guidance and retention devices for guiding and retaining the fuel cartridge;

opening devices for opening the fuel cartridge; and

fuel extraction devices for extracting the fuel from the fuel cartridge.

18. Cartridge receptacle device according to claim 17, with a device for applying a pressure to the fuel in a fuel chamber of the fuel cartridge.

19. Cartridge receptacle device according to claim 18, in which the device for applying the pressure comprises a gas.

20. Cartridge receptacle device according to claim 18, in which the device for applying the pressure comprises a compression spring.

21. Cartridge receptacle device according to claim 17, in which the fuel extraction devices comprise a dosing device.

22. Cartridge receptacle device according to claim 21, whereby the dosing device comprises a pump device.

23. Cartridge receptacle device according to claim 22, whereby the pump device comprises a micropump.

24. Cartridge receptacle device according to claim 21, whereby the dosing device comprises at least one valve which can be actuated.

25. Cartridge receptacle device according to claim 24, whereby the at least one valve can be actuated magnetically or piezoelectrically.

26. Cartridge receptacle device according to claim 25, whereby the at least one valve comprises a needle valve and/or a disc valve and/or a slide valve.

27. Cartridge receptacle device according to claim 17, in which the guidance and retention devices comprise at least one latching element and/or at least one compression spring and/or at least one guide rail and/or at least one centring element.

28. Fuel cell device with at least one cartridge receptacle device according to claim 17.