Fuel cartridge
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a septum comprising an outer face and an inner face;
a fuel exchange chamber proximately disposed to the inner face;
an internal sealing interface disposed intermediately between the inner face and the fuel exchange chamber;
a movable hollow member comprising a closed member end proximately disposed to the inner face, an open member end opposite the closed end, one or more walls connecting the closed member end and the member open end, and a hole in the one or more walls near the closed member end, the closed member end biased toward the inner face by a biasing force that aligns the hole with the internal sealing interface; and
a valve cover comprising an orifice configured to allow a device valve coupling member of a separate apparatus to enter and pass through the septum to exert an opening force on the closed member end to move the movable hollow member away from the septum and the internal sealing interface and connect the hole to the fuel chamber, the head entering the fuel exchange chamber to connect a fuel port in a side of the coupling member to the fuel exchange chamber and create a flow path between the open end and the device valve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fuel cartridges for delivering fuel to a fuel consuming device, such as a fuel cell, are provided. Valves for use on cartridges or devices may include one or more internal seals that prevent fuel flow except when a valve is connected to a properly coupled corresponding valve and a seal between the two vales is established. Cartridge housings may include venting to maintain pressure equilibrium. A flexible or deformable fuel reservoir may be used with a pressurizing system that causes fuel to flow from a cartridge to a device independent of orientation.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a septum comprising an outer face and an inner face;
a fuel exchange chamber proximately disposed to the inner face;
an internal sealing interface disposed intermediately between the inner face and the fuel exchange chamber;
a movable hollow member comprising a closed member end proximately disposed to the inner face, an open member end opposite the closed end, one or more walls connecting the closed member end and the member open end, and a hole in the one or more walls near the closed member end, the closed member end biased toward the inner face by a biasing force that aligns the hole with the internal sealing interface; and
a valve cover comprising an orifice configured to allow a device valve coupling member of a separate apparatus to enter and pass through the septum to exert an opening force on the closed member end to move the movable hollow member away from the septum and the internal sealing interface and connect the hole to the fuel chamber, the head entering the fuel exchange chamber to connect a fuel port in a side of the coupling member to the fuel exchange chamber and create a flow path between the open end and the device valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
a coupling member of a first valve comprising a fuel port hole disposed on a coupling member and connected to a flow path within the apparatus, the coupling member being configured to pass through a septum of a second valve of a separate apparatus and to extend into the second valve such that the fuel port enters a fuel exchange chamber in the second valve to provide a flow connection between the flow path and the fuel chamber, the fuel chamber being disposed behind the septum and a sealing interface of the second valve. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23)
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21. A method comprising:
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initiating a coupling of a fuel cartridge valve with a device valve of a device, the fuel cartridge valve comprising a septum comprising an outer face and an inner face;
a fuel exchange chamber proximately disposed to the inner face;
an internal sealing interface disposed intermediately between the inner face and the fuel exchange chamber;
a movable hollow member comprising a closed member end proximately disposed to the inner face, an open member end opposite the closed end, one or more walls connecting the closed member end and the member open end, and a hole in the one or more walls near the closed member end, the closed member end biased toward the inner face by a biasing force that aligns the hole with the internal sealing interface; and
a valve cover comprising an orifice;
the device valve comprising a coupling member and a fuel port in a side of the coupling member, the coupling member being configured to pass through the orifice and exert an opening force on the closed member end to move the movable hollow member away from the septum and the internal sealing interface and connect the hole to the fuel chamber, the coupling member entering the fuel exchange chamber to connect the fuel port to the fuel exchange chamber and create a flow path between the open end and the device valve; and
causing fuel to flow between the fuel cartridge housing and the device.
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24. An apparatus comprising:
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a fuel reservoir, a fuel cartridge housing;
a substantially planar pressure plate disposed proximately to a side of the fuel reservoir that applies pressure against the fuel reservoir;
a pressure plate biasing element disposed between an internal surface of the fuel cartridge housing and the pressure plate, the pressure plate biasing element providing a pressure plate biasing force that biases the pressure plate against the side of the fuel reservoir; and
a fuel cartridge valve connected to the fuel reservoir by a flow path. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification