REFUELING STATION

• US 20070068599A1
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Societe BIC
• Inventors: Zimmermann, Joerg, Iaconis, Jean-Louis, Lam, Duhane
• Granted Patent: US 7,992,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/351
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• 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: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An apparatus for fueling a fuel-cell-powered device having a profile and a fuel inlet. The apparatus comprises at least one fuel port having an outlet and at least one adaptor associated with the fuel port. The adaptor is configured to receive the fuel-cell-powered device. Means for releasably and sealingly engaging the fuel inlet of the fuel-cell-powered device to the outlet of the fuel port are also provided. The outlet of the fuel port is operative to dispense fuel when it is in sealed engagement with the fuel inlet of the fuel-cell-powered device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for fueling a fuel-cell-powered device having a profile and a fuel inlet, the apparatus comprising:

at least one fuel port having an outlet;

at least one adaptor adjacent to the at least one fuel port, the at least one adaptor comprising a recess shaped to receive the profile of the fuel-cell-powered device;

a seal disposed to releasably establish a sealed fluidic connection between the fuel inlet of the fuel-cell-powered device and the outlet of the at least one fuel port;

wherein the at least one fuel port is operative to dispense fuel when the inlet of the fuel-cell-powered device is in sealed engagement with the outlet of the at least one fuel port.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one adapter is interchangeable with a different adapter comprising a recess specifically shaped to receive a profile of a different fuel-cell-powered device.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 comprising a plurality of fuel ports and a plurality of corresponding adaptors.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 comprising an on-board fuel source in fluid connection with the at least one fuel port.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising an external fuel source in fluid connection with the at least one fuel port.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one fuel port comprises a check valve, whereby fuel can be dispensed when the check valve is open and fuel is not dispensed when the check valve is closed.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the at least one adaptor comprises an actuator operably connected to the check valve and moveable between an engaged position causing the check valve to open, and a released position causing the check valve to close, whereby when the profile of the fuel cell is fully received within the recess of the at least one adaptor the actuator moves to the engaged position, and when the profile of the fuel cell is no longer fully received within the recess of the at least one adaptor the actuator moves to the released position.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a purge valve connected upstream from the fuel port.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a pressure relief device configured to open to relieve pressure within the apparatus when the pressure within the apparatus reaches or exceeds a threshold pressure.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a fuel pressure regulator.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the fuel pressure regulator independently regulates the fuel pressure of fuel dispensed from at least two of the fuel ports.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus is portable.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the fuel is a gas.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the fuel is hydrogen.

15. A method of fueling a fuel-cell-powered device having a profile and a fuel inlet, the method comprising:

providing a fuel source;

providing an apparatus comprising at least one fuel port having an outlet and at least one adaptor having a recess shaped to receive the profile of the fuel-cell-powered device;

releasably and sealingly engaging the outlet of the fuel port with the fuel inlet of the fuel-cell-powered device; and

allowing fuel to flow from the at least one fuel port to the fuel-cell-powered device.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising interchanging the at least one adaptor with a different adapter comprising a recess specifically shaped to receive a profile of a different fuel-cell-powered device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of fuel ports and a corresponding plurality of adaptors.